The approval by the 16th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday of the $1.96 billion contract for the construction of the rail line linking Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic has drawn the ire of Nigerians.
The approval was announced by Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who said that the 248-kilometre rail line, which will start from Kano, is to pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.
Amaechi said that the project, when completed, would assist in the supply of crude oil from Niger Republic to the refinery being built in the border town between both countries.
But the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that the decision to approve $1.96bn for the construction of a rail line linking Nigeria to Niger Republic is another proof of the misplacement of priorities by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbindiyan, said that the “the problem of this regime is that it has never got its priorities right and at the end of the day, Nigerians are the ones who suffer from these poor choices by these people.
“Let’s even look at it from the point of view of the economy. What is the economic benefit of this project to Nigeria? The Nigerian economy, as it is today, is not in a state to contain this kind of wasteful spending.”
Former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Malachy Ugwummadu, said “it is a misplacement of priority and insensitivity to the needs and plight of the people.”
Convener of the Concerned Nigerians Group, Deji Adeyanju, described the project as one of the projects meant to loot the resources of Nigeria, asking, “what is the Kaduna-Abuja rail project generating? Imagine, we take a loan from China to construct rail line that passes through Katsina State to another country. For what purpose?
“Lagos that has been battling gridlock for many years. Imagine what would happen if there is an intra-city rail. You can imagine its impact and monthly billions it will generate.”
Former President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Sam Nzekwe, wondered who would pay for the part that leads to Niger as “there is so much infrastructural deficit in Nigeria, and part of the reasons we are not having many investors in the country is lack of critical infrastructure. Government would have used more efforts to develop infrastructure in Nigeria.”
While wondering what the rationale behind the project could be, he said, “One would have said by now we should be talking of how to build solid roads and the rail system in Nigeria very well.
“But sometimes, I don’t know if we are getting our priorities right because I think we have to finish with Nigeria before you think of going to Niger. Is there any special thing we are getting from Niger?”
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, Prof Bola Akinterinwa, said Nigerians should be more interested in the source of the fund for the project.
Akinterinwa, in a telephone conversation said “there is absolutely nothing wrong if there is a railway line from the Northern part of the country to our Northern neighbour, Niger, if the funding is going to be at the level of the two countries. Second, if it is within the framework of ECOWAS regional development. Third, if there is an international funding for it under international assistance. So, one cannot just make a conclusion without first addressing under which framework it will be done.
“So, there is no way that kind of project will not be within that (joint) framework. But the issue is to find out the funding. Like a Yoruba proverb says, ‘whoever is going to help an outsider, must have succeeded in helping himself first.”
A political economy and management expert, Professor Pat Utomi, said the government had to explain the rationale for its decision to approve the development of the rail line.
According to him, “the first question, you ask is which is the most commercial axis in the country that needs rail service? In my view, by far the commercial axis is the Lagos-Benin-Onitsha-Port Harcourt-Calabar corridor. That is the busiest commercial track in the country.
“In terms of use, that is the heaviest use traffic that requires rail transportation. But those who make the decisions must understand what drives their own priorities. This is the priority I would choose. But I am not sure what is the basis that forms the government’s choice.
“If there is a regional decision to link the countries of the sub-region and there is a rationale justifying it, say for example produce-aggregation across borders. I can understand that, but everyone must be made understand what produce is being aggregated on the Kano-Dutse-Katsina-Jibia-Maradi route
“I have no problem with cross border traffic if it can be justified on a produce-aggregation level for example a corridor for cotton or something which can have an economic impact. But if it does not, then clearly the judgment of those who are doing the allocation has to be questioned by the people.”
Interviews conducted by The Punch
