THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved contracts for feasibility studies on the development of standard gauge railway lines in six corridors across the country, worth N1.3 billion.
The approval followed a memorandum presented to it for deliberation by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Umar, who was joined by the Minister of Information and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Mr Labaran Maku and Dr Olusegun Aganga, said the six lots, totalling 4,430 kilometres, were in addition to seven approved by the council last year.
The six corridors included the Kano-Dayi-Katsina-Jibiya rail line; Ilela-Sokoto-Jega-Yauti-Makera rail line; Aba-Ikot Ekpene-Ibiono-Itu(spur line to Uyo)-Odupkani-Calabar rail line.
Others are Kano-Nguru-Gashua-Damaturu/Gamborun-Ngala rail line; Calabar-Ikom-Obudu-Ogoja-Katsina Ala-Wukari-Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri and Port Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri rail line.
Umar explained that the contracts were part of the 25 years strategic vision of the Federal Government for the rail sector in the country.
According to him, the scope of work would include detailed studies, detailed surveys and designs, identification of potential train stations and the Environmental Impact Assessment, among others.
The minister revealed that similar contracts awarded last year had been completed with the report already evaluated, adding that they would soon be advertised for further development.
On his part, Aganga disclosed that he formally reported to the FEC that the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) had recognised the development efforts of Nigeria and Ethiopia by undertaking to set up offices in the two countries.
According to him, UNIDO decided to site the offices in the two countries, because it adjudged them to have showed the strongest and highest potential for industrial development in Africa.
He said the gesture was an indication that UNIDO identified with the transformation efforts in Nigeria and endorsed the country’s industrial revolution plan.
Aganga assured that the presence of the UNIDO office in the country would enhance foreign investments flow to Nigeria and fast-track industrial development.
Noting that UNIDO had only eight of such offices in the world, Aganga said “what this means to us is that the world is acknowledging the efforts of this administration in transforming the economy.”
[Nigerian Tribune]
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