Deliver standard gauge rail lines before 2019, Senate tells Amaechi

The Nigerian Senate has ordered the Ministry of Transportation to ensure the delivery of vital infrastructure to Nigerians before 2019.
The Chairman of the committee on transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, tasked the ministry to deliver the standard gauge rail lines and other vital rail infrastructure to Nigerians before the end of 2018.
Ashafa, who represents the Lagos East district, said, “We must be conscious of the fact that the 2018 appropriation cycle is the most important in the life of this administration. It is on its back that we expect most of the projects that have commenced since 2015 to be delivered to Nigerians.
“Our committee is committed towards ensuring an early passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law. I will implore all parties to avoid any actions that will delay the appropriation process.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he has implemented 16.55 per cent of the capital component of the 2017 budget of the ministry.
According to him, only 10.79 per cent of the N192.2bn capital component of the ministry’s budget had been expended.
He said, “The total capital appropriation for the ministry for 2017 is N192.89 billion, out of which N31.93billion (16.55 per cent) was released to the ministry. The sum of N20.82 billion has so far been expended as of November this year.
“In addition, the sum of N528.8m was appropriated for overhead expenditure, out of which N230.5m (43.6 per cent) was released, while N180.51 million (34.1 per cent) has so far been
expended.”
The minister also said the government’s counterpart funding required for the new Ibadan-Kano rail and the Nigerian coastal line Lagos-Calabar project had been included in the 2018 budget proposal.
“We sought and got Mr. President’s approval to source for financiers for various rail projects for development. Negotiations are ongoing and we may need some contributions, depending on the discussions,” he
said.
Amaechi further said the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, was focusing on the improvement of its basic infrastructure, increasing its research base and expansion of its training drive.
He added, “To this end, the institute is planning to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and establish outreach learning centres in four geopolitical zones of the country. It is expected that the institute will eventually be upgraded to a transport technology university that will serve not only Nigeria, but the rest of West Africa.”