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By Steve Agbota
The Federal Government has said that the contractor handling the construction of the Port Harcourt-Maidugiri-Eastern rail line put the project on hold due to insecurity and vandalism of railway infrastructure on the corridor.
Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Sambo, disclosed this during an inspection of the project, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Minister said China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCEC), the contractor handling the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the project, had complained of attacks on its workers along the Abia State axis.
Sambo, who was obviously very displeased, condemned them in strong terms, pointing out that in the history of Nigeria, no administration had invested more in rail infrastructure than the present administration.
He used the opportunity to call on the media and the judiciary to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure that economic saboteurs are not only exposed but prosecuted and sentenced speedily to serve as a deterrent to others.
Commenting on the report that the funds meant for the Eastern rail line were diverted to other projects, the Minister said it was fake news as the progress made so far came from the 15 per cent of the counterpart funding by Nigeria while the 85 per cent to be provided by foreign partners was still being negotiated.
Meanwhile, the Minister on his visit to the National Inland Waterways Authority’s Area Office in Port Harcourt, commissioned three patrol boats and a 32-seater ferry boat to enhance operational efficiency as well as encourage water
