Railway: Senate Summons Amaechi Over Eastern Narrow Gauge

The Senate, on Wednesday, summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to brief its Committees on Land and Trasnport and Local and Foreign Debts on Federal Government’s plans for railway development in the eastern axis, from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri.

This was sequel to a motion raised by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, which alleged the exclusion of the eastern axis from the project.

He specifically prayed that Amaechi should explain the Federal Government’s plan for those who live in the eastern part of Nigeria.

“Some months back, I did mention that less emphasis is being given to railway development in the eastern axis of this country which includes Port Harcourt-Enugu-Markudi all the way to Yola and Maiduguri passing through Delta, Plateau and some parts of Nasarawa State. The response we got was that the Federal Government had an understanding, or probably an agreement with General Electric (GE) to take over that axis, and be able to restore the line in the gauge.

“We have two presently, which is the old gauge – to bring some coaches – run it for some time and recover their money, and essentially, it was suppose to be for goods only. There was no arrangement for passengers. The tragedy now is that that arrangement has collapsed, and GE has withdrawn from the arrangement.

“You will recall that when we granted permission for the Federal Government to raise loan from China to develop the western axis running from Lagos to Kano, it was also the understanding that approval be secured for Government to engage with the Chinese authorities to also secure loan to deal with the eastern axis running from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Now, the story has changed.

“What the Chinese are being asked to do is to come and take over that axisi under a PPP (public-private partnership) arrangement, and use their own money to fix that axis, and recover their money over time. I believe this is not fair to those of us in the eastern part of Nigeria.

“For a country to survive, there must be equity, fairness and justice, and any country that is running against these principles will be heading to disaster. We believe that such opportunities must be spread across, and that’s the only way we can ensure unity, peace and progress of this country.

“My simple prayer is that the Minister of Transport do appear before our Committees on Land Transport and Local and Foreign Loans to explain to us what plan we have for those of us, who live in the eastern part of Nigeria. We are interested in railway development.

“We want to commend the Federal Government in showing interest in railway development, but it is important that that interest is spread across all parts of Nigeria so that we all have a sense of belonging. So, I make this plea on behalf of myself and those, who live in the eastern axis of Nigeria, to ensure that railway development spreads across the country,” he submitted.

In his contribution, Senator Shehu Sani particularly wants Amaechi to explain why there is allegedly not a firm action in terms of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

“The motion raised by Ekweremadu is apt and right because as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, we invited the Minister of Transport, Amaechi, who gave a firm pledge that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line would be the next priority after the lagos-Ibadan-Kano rail line. But it is now evidently clear that there is no firm commitment and action in terms of executing that project from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

“I must say this that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line has a lot of economic, political and social advantages in the sense that that very line will open up the areas in terms of businesses and also movement of people. There is no reason that at this very time here there is a firm and definite borrowing plan for railway lines from Lagos to Kano, but we cannot have same from Port Harcourt.

“It is in order that my committee, together with that of transport, be given the special mandate by this parliament to bring before us the Minister of Transport and other persons concerned with the railway, to explain to us and by extension all Nigerians why should there not be a firm action in terms of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

“The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line has a lot of economic advantages in the sense that it is the longest rail line in the country, and the withdrawal of GE calls for concern. The understanding was that GE would resuscitate the whole line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, and now there will be reconstruction of a new one from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. But it is clear now that there is virtually no commitment, and I can understand that some of my colleagues in the Committee appended their signature to the borrowing plan for the Lagos-Ibadan on the pledge that, if that was done that of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri would follow next. For now, there is virtually no action, no plan. So, I concur with this motion,” Sani said.

Also speaking on the motion, Senator James Manager pointed out that this is one issue that all Nigerians are interested in.

Manager urged the Federal Government to ensure that no part of the country, including the South East, is excluded.

“This motion is very important to all Nigerians. I recall that as a young boy in the university in those days, for the first time in my life I followed the train from Zaria to Port Harcourt, that was my first experience. It was an interesting experience I will never forget.

“We are talking about railway, and then you are excluding the business community in Nigeria. When you talk about business and how to go about it, I think that part of the country is very special. Wherever they find themselves you have business activities booming. If you talk about Lagos, the business activities going on in Lagos those making it thick and interesting are people from that part of this country.

“If you talk about Kano, Kaduna, wherever, they are there, but you decided to exclude that part. And everything about railway train will boost the economy, and we are talking about diversification of the economy. This is one issue that all Nigerians are interested in. I am from Delta (State), and I do know that the State is also in a way excluded. These same people are in Delta, Deputy Senate President, you are aware, Delta North.

“So, Mr. President, it is important for us to invite the Minister. The Federal Government is doing well, as far as the railways are concerned; but no part of the country must be excluded, particularly that part. It is important for the Minister to come and explain. Surprisingly, the Minister is a Port Harcourt man. He must be a nationalist. After all, he is from there. After his tenure as minister, he must go back to Port Harcourt, whether he likes it or not. So, it is important the committees, as suggested by the mover of the motion, to invite the Minister of Transport to appear before them to explain,” Manager said.

Also contributing to support the motion, the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, however, claimed that the eastern railway axis that was given to GE has not been abandoned.

Lawan urged the National Assembly to ensure that the eastern line gets the same treatment that the western or central lines will have.

“Mr President, I rise to support the motion moved by the DSP, and in doing so, let me also clarify that the eastern railway axis that was given to GE has not been abandoned. We raised this question somewhere two days ago, and the Minister, himself, explained that during the launch of the Next Level by Mr. President (Mr. Muhammadu Buhari… Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, interrupted him). I am sorry. I don’t understand. (General laughter…)

“(Lawan continues…) Mr. President, I am happy you don’t understand, and I am happy to explain to you. Ordinarily, you should have understood. Next Level is taking Nigeria to a higher pedestal. GE will have a subsidiary handling the eastern axis, but my concern and that should be the concern of every easterner, that is from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, is that GE is designed to maintain the narrow gauge; it is only rehabilitation and not modernisation. And I believe that what we require is to give those of us from the eastern side whatever is given to everybody in the country. As the DSP has said, let there be justice and fairness in this. But let me also inform this Senate and Nigerians that Mr. President also gave the express approval and order that every state capital in Nigeria must be linked with a railway.

“Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, without sounding partisan, let me say that this Senate and, in fact, the National Assembly, should work with the other side of government to ensure that one, the eastern line gets the same treatment that the western or central line will have, and also, whatever approval they require for this transformational movement of our infrastructure up there with the little funds available is achieved,” he submitted.

In his remarks, Saraki insisted that there must be equity in railway development across the country.

“Distinguished colleagues, I think there is nobody against this motion. So, I can just go straight to the prayer, that is to invite the Minister of Transport to brief the Committees on Land and Trasnport and Local and Foreign Debts on Federal Government’s plans for railway development in the eastern axis from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Let’s ensure that this happens because everybody says there must be equity in railway development across the country,” he concluded.