Rail network Project: Amaechi denies non inclusion of S’East.

It was for the purpose of funding the massive projects that President MUHAMADU BUAHRI requested the Senate for approval to borrow the sum of five point eight billion dollars from China’s Exim Bank.

When the request was tabled on the floor of the Senate in plenary recently, lawmakers from the South-East observed that the region was excluded from the designated coverage areas.

But the Transportation Minister appeared before the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to explain to the lawmakers the technicalities involved in the rail-line project to facilitate approval.

ROTIMI AMAECHI said the two major rail projects of the Federal Government cover the coastal areas, from Calabar to Lagos, traversing Lagos-Ore-Benin City-Sapele-Warri-Yenegoa.

The rail would also extend to Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo, Calabar, and branch off from Benin-City to Onitsha, including a rail bridge in the commercial town in Anambra State.

AMAECHI agreed with Senator ENYINNAYA ABARIBE that there was no reason for the South-East to be excluded from the rail project, since it would be part of the repayment.

Therefore, the Transportation Minister noted that it would be wrong for anybody to say that the South-East states were not included in the rail-line projects.

In his remarks; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator SHEHU SANI said the minister’s explanation would assist the Senate to take a decision on the loan request.

Senator SHEHU SANI is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.