N’assembly panel tackles Amaechi over standard rail for Kano-Maradi vs narrow gauge for south-east

The national assembly joint committee on land and marine transport has expressed dismay over the type of rail lines planned for different parts of the country.

While a standard gauge is being planned for the controversial Kano-Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line, there are plans to rehabilitate the narrow gauge in the south-east.

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, on Thursday appeared before the joint panel to defend the budget of his ministry.

While defending his ministry’s proposals for the 2022 fiscal year, Amaechi said the Kano-Maradi rail line will connect countries in West Africa for trade.

“Construction of the 284 kilometres Nigeria-Maradi standard gauge rail line enabling interconnectivity with countries in the West African sub-region for the promotion of trade and commerce,” he said.

Speaking after the minister concluded his presentation, Pat Asadu, chairman of the house committee on ports, said the economy of the south-east is bigger than Maradi.

“Why is the ministry doing a 287 kilometers of railway track from Kano to Maradi that you will fund with Nigerian money borrowed for Nigerians to be paid by our children to do a world class railway to Maradi,” Asadu said.

“I also know the economy of Niger Republic and I believe the economy of the south-east is bigger than that of Maradi. I am not even talking about south-south.”

The lawmaker said the integration of this country will always be challenged because “things are done with so much impunity”.

“So if we approve this budget for you, you will go and do the Kano-Maradi standard rail line and do a narrow gauge rehabilitation for the south-east. My heart bleeds,” he said.

On his part, Danjuma Goje, chairman of the senate committee on marine transport, accused the ministry of “double standards”.

“That is why we are quarreling,” Goje said.

“You are telling us you are designing Ibadan to Abuja, you are doing Kaduna to Kano, you are doing Abuja to Itakpe and to Warri.

“What wrong did the south-east, north-central and north-east, particularly the south-east, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa. What is wrong with us?”