Amaechi Did Not Abandon Eastern Rail Project – APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has said former minister of transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, did not abandon the Eastern rail corridor project while in office.

He described those holding the argument that the former Rivers State governor abandoned the project, as mischief makers, who are deliberately feigning ignorance.

Eze, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, said in 2021, the Federal Ministry of Transportation under Amaechi, gave a $3 billion contract for the expansion of the country’s Eastern Railway, linking Port Harcourt to Maiduguri

The APC chieftain stated that a major part of the contract term included the restoration and renovation of the railway network between Port Harcourt and Maiduguri in northern Nigeria.

Eze said, “The eastern railway network connects various cities in Nigeria’s eastern area, passing through 12 states. The project included the building of additional branch tracks in addition to the growth of the current eastern railway.

“China Railway Construction Corporation’s subsidiary China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation was granted the contract for the project which has the potential of speeding up Nigeria’s industrialisation and urbanization by boosting resource development and employment along with the network.

“The completion of track laying from Port Harcourt to Aba is a major milestone in the project which spans the east to the north.

“The train project is designed to enhance regional trade and help Nigeria reestablish itself with a good rail network in West Africa.

“In tandem with the vision of Amaechi coupled with the foundation and ground work he put in place for completion of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Rail Project the incumbent Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali by November, 2023 reassured Nigerians that the Port-Harcourt -Maiduguri rail project will be completed accordingly.”