REPORTS - Federal Government approves $5.3bn Ibadan-Kano rail project

The Federal Government has given approval for the construction of the $ 5 . 3 bn Ibadan to Kano standard gauge rail line project .

Minister of Transportation - Mr. Rotimi Amaechi

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 . 3 bn 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 . ”

SOURCE - Punchng