FG Approves $3bn For Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail Line

The federal government on Wednesday disclosed that it had approved the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge rail line.

CityNews Nigeria reports that Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made the disclosure while addressing state house correspondents after the weekly federal executive council (FEC).

The minister said the rail line, which is valued valued at $3 billion, will have new branches — from Port Harcourt to Bonny and from Port Harcourt to Owerri.

He added that the government also approved a new deep seaport in Bonny and a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt, both in Rivers state.

“The federal executive council has approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities,” he said.

“The council also approved the construction of a new deep seaport in Bonny, under PPP and the construction of a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt.

“The railway line will be at the cost of $3,020,279,549. The industrial park, which is under PPP, at no cost to federal government, will cost $241,154,389.31

“The Bonny deep seaport will cost $461,924,369, at no cost to the federal government.

“There is another connecting to narrow gauge to standard gauge at Kafanchan. There is a branch line from Gombe or before Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashau.”