The Federal Government has given approval for the construction
of the $5.3bn Ibadan to Kano standard gauge rail line project.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this on
Thursday at the third Maritime Stakeholders Interactive Forum.
“Just yesterday, we got approval to complete the $5.3bn Ibadan
to Kano rail project. We have also applied for funding to commence
coastal rail for the Port Harcourt to Warri segment,” Amaechi
said.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of
Transportation in Abuja, the minister also revealed that the
Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, would be in
charge of all maritime agencies, while he (Amaechi) would focus on
the railway sector.
He said, “In my first term as minister, I completely abandoned
the maritime sector to the heads of agencies. This time, that won’t
be happening again.
“I have instructed that the Minister of State for Transportation
should personally supervise the maritime agencies, while I just
oversee what is happening.”
Amaechi said he had discussed issues on maritime safety with
President Muhammadu Buhari and assured his listeners that by next
year, the country will have a single window in the maritime
sector.
He said, “There are two things I discussed with Mr. President
that I will be focusing on in this second term as minister, and
they are maritime security and the single window project.
“I have assured the government that by the end of 2020, we
should have the single window at our maritime sector.
“On maritime security, I have told the Israeli firm HSLI that
they are too slow. By now, they should have launched. I want to
know the situation of things with the aspect of security on our
maritime space.”
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