Arch Sambo who said this in Abuja at the official commencement of track laying of the railway modernisation project, said the project which was awarded to a China firm, CCECC in December 2010 will be completed within the 36 months time frame.
He said, the Federal Ministry of Finance successfully negotiated and secured a concessionary loan of $500 million from the Chinese government to part finance the project.
According to him, “in order to ensure the completion of Abuja, Idu,-Kaduna rail project completed on scheduled, government directed the intervention of Subsidy Re-investment programme, SURE-P to help complement the envisaged financing gap so as to meet the counterpart funding of the project.
“I am therefore highly delighted to perform the official commencement of the track laying for the Abuja, Idu-Kaduna railway modernisation project which signifies the final critical aspect towards completion of this segment of rail modernisation in Nigeria.”
The Vice President stressed further that, “in our efforts to ensure adequate funding arrangements for the execution of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway modernisation project, Government is taking concrete steps to guarantee timely delivery of this project.
“Thus, as part of his engagement during the upcoming proposed State visit to China this month, Mr. President is expected to discuss with the Chinese Government possible sourcing of concessionary loans to guarantee funding the execution of the project.”
This administration according to the Vice President is considering the concessioning of the railway facilities to private operators on completion and it is the hope of the government that Nigerian Railways operators will eventually transform to a world class status.
“The Federal Government is determined and will continue to provide the necessary enabling environment through the enactment of relevant legislation for Public Private Partnership, PPP, in the provision and operation of the rail corridors.”
Arch. Sambo who noted “the Government’s commitment to infrastructural development in the country is total and unwavering,” added, “in that connection, several projects in many other critical sectors like power, water, roads, oil and gas, health, youth development and education were also embarked upon.”
Speaking earlier, Minister of Transport, senator Idris Umar re-emphasised the commitment of the Federal Government towards providing the country with an adequate and sustainable railway network under the articulated 25 year Strategic Railway vision for the country.
Senator Umar who put the overall physical completion level so far on the Abuja-Kaduna rail project at 68 percent, noted that earthworks for the project is 92 percent completed, hydraulic structure, concrete drains and culverts, attained 87 percent completion.
He said “out of the 24 railway bridges to be constructed, 17 have been completed to substructure level while substructure work on the remaining 7 are at various levels of completion,” adding, “four out five box bridges have been completed while the remaining one is ongoing.”
Umar said when the project is completed and operational, it will be possible for people to stay in Kaduna and use the train services to come to work in Abuja on a daily basis
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