$2bn Kano-Maradi Rail Project Excites Transport Minister

The Minister of Transport, Sen. Ahmed Alkali, expressed his delight at the progress of the $2 billion Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail project connecting Niger Republic. Speaking to reporters in Dadin Kowa, Jigawa State, after inspecting the project, Alkali emphasized the project’s significance in boosting the economies of both Nigeria and Niger Republic. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the timely completion of the Kano-Jigawa-Maradi rail line project. Alkali acknowledged the necessity of making sacrifices, including concessions from the contractors, to meet the project’s financial requirements. The minister, who traveled by road from Kano to Daura, expressed satisfaction with the work accomplished thus far and was optimistic that the project would meet its target completion date of 2025. The standard gauge rail project, which commenced in Kano and passes through Jigawa and Katsina States before terminating in Maradi, Niger Republic, holds great promise for regional trade and development. Alkali revealed that the earthwork for the project had reached an impressive 80% completion stage, with rail line construction set to commence soon. He praised the contractors for adhering to the job’s specifications and expressed confidence that the project would stay on course. Regarding potential cost adjustments due to rising production expenses, the minister encouraged the contractor to make necessary contributions to support the nation’s development under the Tinubu-led administration. Lead Contractor, Mr. Vladislav Bystrenko, clarified that the contract was valued at $1.95 billion, with contractual obligations signed in 2021. Despite funding delays, they proactively initiated key tasks like design, land survey, and site supervision to expedite the project’s progress. Bystrenko expressed appreciation for the government’s commitment to the project’s timely completion by 2025. Meanwhile, during the visit, the minister also inspected the Muhammadu Buhari University of Transportation in Daura, where the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adam Umar, announced plans to commence admissions in October.

2nd Abuja Airport Runway: We’ll pay N825.8m compensation –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration (FCTA) will pay N825.8 million as compensation for the construction of second runway for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Wike stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with members of the Jiwa community and other stakeholders. He said that the amount would be paid through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for compensation and resettlement of the people of the community affected by the project. He added that as part of the incentive, 12 people from the community would be employed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies and 10 by FCTA. He added that the government would also construct the Tunga Madaki bridge along with a five-kilometre road from the bridge to the community for easy movement of the people. The minister explained that the project would be captured in the 2024 budget of the FCTA. Wike also said that FCTA would equally provide a modern health facility to provide quality health care services for people of the community. He said that an undertaking would be signed based on the agreement between the government and the community. He identified the signatories as the permanent secretaries of FCTA and ministry of aviation, the Chief of Jiwa, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Council and the Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission. “If that is done today, and tomorrow or next tomorrow the money is paid to them, contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work. “So, the second runway has come to stay,” he said. He said that the current administration was determined to ensure that the second runway was delivered. He commended the Chief of Jiwa, Alhaji Isa Idris, for mobilising his people to attend the meeting to resolve the crises. His counterpart, Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that he met the issue on his table, adding that the project ought to have been delivered in July. Keyamo said that the contractors could not be mobilised because of the issue of compensation. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, said that the completion of the project requires the support of all relevant stakeholders. Adesola commended Wike for the intervention to ensure a quick resolution of the issue. Dr Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2022. Meribole said that the project was awarded to four contractors in April, with CCECC Nigeria Limited as the major contractor. He, however, said that the project was stalled because of the disagreement over compensation to the affected community members. Earlier, the Chief of Jiwa, said that the ministry of aviation through its consultant had earlier pegged the compensation at N2.5 million per hectare, for the 12,000 hectares allocated for the project. Idris further said that the amount was later reviewed downward to N700,000 per hectare when FCTA took over the discussion as the rightful authority to determine how much compensation to be paid. He said that the community took the matter to the Public Complaint Commission with a view to resolve the issue amicably. The community leader said that his people were concerned that the N700,000 being offered per hectare would not be enough for the affected persons to acquire another land.