By Myke Uzendu, Kano
The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has insisted that all contactors handling any railway project in the country must giver priority to local content in the aspects of manpower, equipment and raw materials.
The minister said that gone are the days when contractors will import virtually every manpower and material used for project execution and subsequently repartirate all the funds back to their country without adding value to the country that awarded the contract.
Amaechi reiterated the position on Friday in Zawacikin railway mega station Kano during an inspection of the 203 km Kano-Kaduna standard guage railway project being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The minster who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work added that the project could be delivered within the target period of 18 months if funds are made available. He said that as at present, the project is being funded through the budget reiterating that for the project to be completed, there is the need for additional borrowing.
The Minister lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for insisting that the moribund railway lines must be overhauled and linked to the seaport for enhanced economic value.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the inspection, he said,
“The government is encouraging not only the use of local materials but passing that kind of jobs to Nigerians. Not just about the economic benefits, it is not good for the Chinese to come here and we borrow $2 billion and they take the whole profit and go to their country. They should also spend part of it in the country”.
Accompanied on the inspection by the Minister of State Transportation Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Magdalene Ajani, Chairman governing Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation Alh. Ibrahim Musa, Director of Press and Public Relations Eric Orjiakor and a retinue of officers of the ministry and the construction company, Amaechi disclosed that quality will not be compromised just as he earned members of the inspection team to undertake daily inspection of the sites to ensure that it is executed according to specifications.
Expressing satisfaction with the quality of work done, Amaechi assured that the project would be delivered and ready for commercial operation before May 2023. “I have never denied that we are having financial challenges and that is because of economic downturn. The Chinese are not funding projects the way they used to do. Until now, we are yet to conclude on loans for this project and so, we are funding it from the budget.
“We are putting pressure on all the necessary institutions that used to give us funds. And hopefully, before May 2023, we will be able to get enough funds to complete this project.”
“In terms of quality, they are not doing badly, I don’t know if I should attribute that to the inspection by TEAM, but you must also credit CCECC, but what it means that they should not sleep. That is why we insist that TEAM must be present at every meeting. TEAM has the final say, not the Minister.
“We insist the Chinese should bring enough equipment because what we suffered in Lagos /Ibadan was because the equipment was breaking down and they could nut palace orders for new ones but for this one, they should buy all the equipment that they need so that as it breaks down, they replace.”
On the economic value of the project, the Minister stressed that when completed “the route will be used to convey both passengers and cargos. One of the most economic nerve centers in the country is Kano and Lagos. The economic activities that take place in Kano can be conveyed to Lagos and those who produce in Lagos can have their products conveyed to Kano. This will create jobs and the cost of land here (Zawacikin) will not be the same again.”
