FG looking for $16 million to complete railway projects, says minister

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that his ministry needs $16 million to complete the Federal Governments railway projects.

The minister disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, October 5, 2017.

He disclosed that he briefed the president on the progress of railway transport in the country, revealing that the approval of certain projects have taken place but that there's not enough money yet to execute them.

"There are approvals, but we have to look for the money, the money is just not there. It is not easy, it is a total of about $16 billon and you don't pluck $16 billion from the sky," he said.

The minister also said that the president is very involved with the transportation ministry so much that it could affect his blood pressure.

He said, "The President sleeps and wakes up thinking about our railways; therefore I must always see him and tell him how far we have gone. Once he hears the progress that is being made, he feels happy.

"He is also very pleased with what we have done in terms of the narrow gauge; between now and December we should ensure efficiency in the narrow gauge; we are bringing in more locomotives; we are bringing in more coaches and wagons, to ensure efficiency in the narrow gauge."

He revealed that the approved railway projects run from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri cutting across Aba, Owerri, Enugu, Umuahia to Makurdi, Abakiliki, Awka and Lafia down to Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and to Damaturu and ends at Borno.