FG to invest $11bn for Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has said the Federal Government is set to invest the sum of $11.17 billion for the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project.

The FEC on Wednesday in the course of its weekly meeting, noted the initiative is to help link all coastal cities in Nigeria by rail in the next six years.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this during a briefing with newsmen after the virtual FEC meeting in Abuja.

He said the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, presented two memos, which had to do with federal government’s commitment to expanding and consolidating on the rail project.

According to him; “the first one actually has to do with the Kano-Jibia rail and the other one has to do with the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail.

“Actually, what was approved today was funding to ensure that work starts immediately on those two rails.

“And then, also another memo that was approved today was the ratification of the president’s approval for the award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Standard Gauge.

“Today, the council has given approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail.

“This particular route is very important because after the Lagos-Kano route, this Lagos-Calabar coastal route actually will link all the coastal cities in the country.

“Actually, the proposed route alignment is as follows; it will go from Lagos to Sagamu, Sagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin-City to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenogoa, Yenegoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, Obudu Ranch with branch lines from Benin-City to Agbo, Ogwashi-ukwu, Asaba, Onitsha and Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Sea Port.

“This particular route is very important especially for our coastal economy; the cost of the project is 11. 17 billion dollars”.