$5.3bn Loan Delaying Kano-Ibadan Railway Construction – Amaechi

$5.3bn Loan Delaying Kano-Ibadan Railway Construction – Amaechi.

The federal government has said that whenever its $5.3bn loan is approved from China, it will start construction of a railway line from Ibadan to Kano.

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, in a statement made this known in Abuja on Saturday.

 “We are waiting for the Chinese government and bank to approve the $5.3 billion to construct the Ibadan-Kano. What was approved a year ago was the contract.” Amaechi said.

 “The moment I announce that the federal government has awarded a contract of $5.3 billion to CCECC to construct Ibadan-Kano, they assume the money has come in, no.”

 “Up till now, we have not gotten the money a year after we have applied for the loan. We have almost finished the one of Lagos-Ibadan. If we don’t get the loan now, we can’t commence,” he added.

The minister added that the Ibadan-Kano railway line would connect six cities once it was completed.

These cities are; Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, Minna, Ilorin, Osogbo and Ibadan.

He said the project when completed the train would carry goods directly from Lagos to Kano.