Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, during an interview on a Channels
Television programme.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on
Saturday appealed to the National Assembly to halt its questioning
of Nigeria’s loan agreement with China.
Mr Amaechi said questions from the National Assembly is likely
to deter China from extending credit to the country, especially the
$5.3bn required for the Ibadan-Kano railway.
He made the remarks during an inspection tour of the
Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project which is being primarily
financed by Chinese banks.
“They are not investigating corruption in construction,” Mr
Amaechi said. “We want the National Assembly to allow us to get the
loan for Ibadan to Kano, which is about $5.3bn.
“If you are telling the man who lent you money you don’t like
the way he lent you, he won’t lend you any further.
“For this one (Lagos-Ibadan rail project), we have $1.6bn for
which we are contributing about $200 and $300 million. But don’t
forget, they have not finished paying, they can stop at any
time.”
The House of Representatives had raised an alarm about the
nature of loans received from China which, it said, puts the
country’s sovereignty into question in the case of a re-payment
default.
However, Mr Amaechi has insisted the loans, which are primarily
spent on capital projects built by Chinese companies, will benefit
the country.
Touring Lagos-Ibadan Railway
On his Saturday inspection tour, Amaechi was accompanied by the
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and top
management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
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According to a Channels Television correspondent, the inspection
started from the mega station in Ebute Metta to Apapa in Lagos and
moved all the way to Ibadan, Oyo state.
The ministers inspected the construction of all boarding
stations and yards along the route.
Rotimi Amaechi speaks to a Chinese construction official during an
inspection tour of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project on August 15,
2020.
Mr Amaechi expressed satisfaction at the pace of work, despite
the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, he did not specify when the project will be completed.
“Let’s hope by January, this thing will be ready,” he said.
Mr. Amaechi said the Ibadan-Kano rail project is being delayed
by the expected approval by the national assembly to acquire a loan
for its execution.
On his part, the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, said
monies borrowed from China are being utilised judiciously for
capital projects.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria,
said skeletal operations are likely to commence from Yaba to Ibadan
in September.