Rotimi Amaechi signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the
construction of $1.959 billion rail project that would terminate in
the Niger Republic.
The Federal Government has signed an agreement for the
construction of $1.959 billion rail project that would terminate in
the Niger Republic.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Ministry of Transportation
via Twitter.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Mota-
Engil Group, a multinational engineering and construction company,
for the Kano to Maradi rail line project.
While the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, signed the
agreement on behalf of Nigeria the Managing Director of Mota- Engil
Group, Antonio Gvoea, signed on behalf of the firm in Abuja.
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According to a statement by the spokesman, Ministry of
Transportation, Eric Ejiekwe, the Minister said the
283.750-kilometre rail line, besides developing freight and
passenger transport, will be integrated with road transport and
would make a great contribution to the local economy as well as an
important development in the social sector.
The project duration is for 36 months and the contract type is
engineering, procurement and construction.
Amaechi has said the inauguration of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line
had been put on hold due to upsurge of COVID-19 in the country.
According to him, over 60 staff on project site have been
infected while trying to complete the project.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday insisted
Nigerian universities are not ready to re-open in the middle of a
second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier directed
universities to resume academic activities on January 18.
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But ASUU is asking the federal government to review the
decision, as more COVID-19 cases continue to be reported across the
country
On Monday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
reported 1,244 new cases and three more deaths.
“Our concern is rooted in the safety of our members,” ASUU’s
National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, said on Sunrise Daily. “What
happens to congested hostels, crowded classrooms? What flexible
arrangements are in place? It is a situation of emergency. I’m not
sure the Universities can cope.
When asked if e-learning was an option for universities, the
ASUU President said the necessary infrastructure was not in
place.
“We are aware that some universities are putting measures in
place, with alternative learning models,” he said. “Some are even
trying blended classes, virtual and physical.
“But these efforts are limited. They get to a point they can’t
go further.
“ASUU has been talking about revitalisation since 2012. These
are some of the areas where the assistance would have helped.
Universities need huge funds to do this.
“People are saying start virtual classes, but more than 60
percent of our students will run into trouble – they can’t afford
data or smartphones.”
ASUU recently called off a ten-month-old strike over demands
related to salary structure and government support for
universities.