The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Government to reverse its earlier decision and continue the East–West Rail Line Project.
This was sequel to a motion moved by a member from Anambra State, Honourable Dozzie Nwanko at plenary.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the project was stopped by the Federal Ministry of transportation in 2022, despite the concluded arrangement with Standard Chartered Bank and the Government’s thirty billion Naira (N30bn) commitment to the contractor.
According to him, the non-completion of the Rail Project has aggravated the problems of travelers who suffer delay due to the deplorable state of the road coupled with checkpoints along the road
Honourable Nwanko noted that the inability to complete the project within the projected Six years period would continue to put pressure on the two sea ports located in Port Harcourt and Lagos and the existing roads
Adopting the motion, the house called on the Government to review its 25-Year Railway Strategic Plan part of which is to unbundle and commercialize the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
The house also mandated its Committee on Land Transportation to liaise with Federal Ministry of Transportation and other relevant government agencies to ensure that the East-West Coastal Rail Project was captured in the 2023 budget estimates.
Confidence Okwuchi
