Nigeria Approves $2bn for Rail Link to Niger Republic

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved $1,959,744,723.71 for the construction of a rail line from Kano in Kano State to Maradi in Niger Republic.

Briefing State House reporters after wednesday’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister of Transportation, Mr.Rotimi Amaechi, said the contract sum included 7.5 per cent value added tax (VAT).

Amaechi said the rail line designed to take-off from Kano would link Dutse, in Jigawa State, Katsina, and Jibia and terminate at Maradi in Niger Republic.

According to information obtained from the Ministry of Transportation, the 248-kilometre rail line was initially budgeted for in the 2018 Appropriation Act, and would pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.

The rail line upon completion would aid the supply of crude oil from Niger Republic to the refinery being built in the border town between Nigeria and Niger.

It was also learnt that there’s a mutual agreement for the construction of the refinery between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Amaechi also said the council approved another memorandum for the award of a contract for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of one railway crane of 150 tonne-capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

“This is to sort out situations of an accident on the track. It is for a total cost of N3,049,544,000. That’s the first memo that was approved for the Ministry of Transportation.

“The second one is the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT,” he said.

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