Chidi Samuel || Following the outcry over the alleged exclusion of the Igbo heartland from the ongoing rail projects across the country, coastalrailthe federal ministry of transport on Friday disclosed that South East Nigeria was not excluded from the ongoing rail projects in the Country.
The Ministry in a statement through its director of public relations said there are two major rail line projects it is embarking on in the Cocoastal rail projects from Lagos-Calabar and the Lagos-kano lines.
Part of the statement reads, “The two major rail projects of the Federal Government are the Coastal Rail Project from Lagos-Calabar, which traverse Lagos-Shagamu-Ore-Benin City-Sapele-Warri-Yenogoa.
“ With siding to Otuoke-Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-calabar and branch line from Benin City Abudu-Onitsha, including Onitsha rail bridge.
“ Lagos-Kano rail project will traverse Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan-Oshogbo-Ilorin-Jebba-Minna-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, with branch line from Minna-Abuja and Abuja-Kaduna. “
Sonaike said that the loan from China Exim Bank would be used to fund the three segments from the two major rail projects which were Lagos-Ibadan, Kano-Kaduna and Lagos- Kano.
“The Federal Ministry of Transportation wishes to state categorically that the loan from China Exim Bank will be used to fund the following three segments from the two major rail projects.
“Lagos-Ibadan, from Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan with extension to Apapa Port Complex with the segment two of Lagos-Kano.
“Kano-Kaduna, segment 3A of Lagos-Kano, Calabar-Port Harcourt, which will pass through Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar with extension to Onne Deep Sea Port.
She said that the Federal Government rail project touches various sections of the country and therefore no section would be left out.
It will be recalled that senate during the week summoned the Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport to explain why major parts of the Igbo heartland was excleded from the rail project.
