– Flays CCECC over slow pace
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government on Friday announced that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway, when completed will cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal on the populace.
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, speaking on the economic importance of the railway project, said the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge, would connect Port Harcourt and Onne seaports to other parts of the country.
Alkali speaking in Port Harcourt while inspecting rail tracks in Rivers State, berated the contractor handling the construction of the Port Harcourt- Maiduguri narrow railway gauge, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, over the slow pace of work.
The Minister wondered how the contractor will cover over 2000km from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in 36 months, when they were still struggling to get to Aba from Port Harcourt in the last 12 months.
He said, “The project is linking the two ports in Port Harcourt up to Maiduguri that will promote regional trading, cost of trading will be low, by the time we have started the passenger train, it will go a long way to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy withdrawal.
“I am disappointed in what I have seen, because this contract was signed for 36months and it’s to cover over 2000km. So far, even Port Harcourt to Aba is around 47percent. Ideally, it is supposed to cover 47percent of the entire 2000km which by now we should be around Plateau or so, and yet we are still struggling to be in Aba before the end of the year.
“I am not happy; in fact, I am disappointed. They (contractor) are using manual alignment to lay the rail tracks in this 21st century. In this era of technology, if you are not ready for something, don’t even start it.
“The funding was made for 15percent to be provided by the federal government while 85percent to be provided by CCECC, since the project kick started the funding is only done with the federal government of the 15percent, so that shows how unserious the CCECC are in terms of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri reconstruction and rehabilitation project.”
The Minister warned that he will not hesitate to enforce the law on the contractor.
“We have to go back to the Ministry because whatsoever we do must be between the ambit of the law, whatsoever the law provides, I will make sure to enforce it.
“The project was signed last two years but the actual construction started last year, but even in a year time, if you cannot cover Port Harcourt to Aba in 12 months, then how can you cover over 2000km in 36months?”
