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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to continue work on the East–West Rail Line because of economic importance of the project to the nation.
The House also urged the Federal Government to review its 25-Year Railway Strategic Plan part, which include the unbundling and commercialization the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
The Parliament also mandated its Committee on Land Transportation to liaise with Federal Ministry of
Transportation and other relevant government agencies to ensure that the East-West Coastal Rail Project is captured in the 2023 budget estimates.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Dozie Nwankwo, on need to continue the East-West Rail Line project. Nwankwo, in his motion, informed the House that the Federal Executive Council ( FEC) in April 2017, granted approval for the construction of 1,400km Standard Gauge East-West Coastal Rail Line Project.
He noted that the project is expected to link Lagos-Ore-Benin-Sapele-Warri-Yenagoa-Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar-Akamkpa-Ikom with a branch line from Benin to Asaba-Onitsha-Port Harcourt-Onne Deep Seaport.
According to him, the government in March 2021, made arrangements for $11 billion alternate counterpart funding with Standard Chartered Bank out of $14.4 billion required to execute the project;
However, Nwankwo expressed worry over the non-completion of the rail project, stating that it has aggravated the problems of travelers who suffer delay due to the deplorable state of the road coupled with checkpoints along Calabar-Lagos road.
Furthermore, he stated that the non-completion of the project has continued to exact pressure on the two sea ports located in Port Harcourt and Lagos and the existing roads.
