The Federal Ministry of Transportation has issued a rejoinder to allegations by Sahara Reporters alleging that Nigeria’s Transport Minister, Senator Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, diverted a $3 billion railway project from the South-East to his home state, Gombe, for political gain.
In a statement signed by Janet McDickson,Director, Information and PR/Head Press, the Ministry categorically denied these claims as false and misleading.
It insisted that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway rehabilitation project is ongoing, with significant progress made from Port Harcourt to Aba and ongoing works from Aba to Enugu.
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The Ministry attributed delays to funding issues and is working to secure funds to complete the project, clarifying that preliminary surveys were conducted in Gombe as part of the project’s broader scope, but no construction is currently underway there.
The Ministry requests Sahara Reporters to retract the report and apologize for damaging the Minister’s reputation.
READ BELOW THE FULL TEXT OF THE REJOINDER
REJOINDER TO A FAKE NEWS
Re- “Nigeria’s Transport Minister diverted $3 Billion Railway Project from South-East to Home State, Gombe for political Gain.”
The attention of the Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Transportation has been drawn to a publication written by Sahara Reporters (online report) alleging that the “Nigeria’s Transport Minister diverted $3 Billion Railway Project from South-East to Home State, Gombe for political Gain”.
The Management wishes to state categorically that, the above report is false, malicious and misleading to the public and should be discarded.
The Port Harcourt -Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project was awarded to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in November, 2020. So far, the rehabilitation works has been completed from Port Harcourt to Aba and train services along the corridor is currently running.
Rehabilitation works from Aba to Enugu is ongoing with works on substructure completed while works on superstructures are ongoing.
It is pertinent to note that the slow pace of work on the project is due to paucity of funds and the Federal Ministry of Transportation is working assiduously with the Contractor to ensure that funds are drawn down to complete the project.
It is worthy to note that the main line for the project is in sections, Port Harcourt -Aba, Aba-Kafanchan, Kafanchan to Kuru in Jos, and Kuru to Maiduguri.
As part of preliminary works on the remaining section of the project which includes Gombe State, a recognizance survey was carried out in 2024. The survey was carried out along the entire rail line by the four(4) stakeholders , the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Contractor and the Consultant. Therefore, there is no work going on in Gombe currently as falsely reported by Sahara Reporters.
The Management of the Ministry request that Sahara Reporters withdraw this fake report and apologise to the Honourable Minister. Distinguish Senator Said Ahmed Alkali for dragging his name and the Ministry in a bad light.
The Hon. Minister is working assiduously to bring out the dividends of democracy to the entire nation to achieve the mandate of the Ministry and does not deserve to be attached with this fake news.
The Sahara Reporters are therefore, warned to desist from carrying out fake news but are advised to work professionally by officially verifying their information before publications.
Nigerians should note that in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry is working hard to connect the entire country through the rail sector to ease transportation.
Signed
Janet McDickson
Director, Information & PR/Head Press
Federal Ministry of Transportation
