The Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMT) has described as false a report claiming that Sen. Said Alkali, the Minister of Transport, diverted three billion dollars railway project from South-East to his home state, Gombe for political gain.
The ministry urged Nigerians to disregard the publication, describing it as false, malicious and misleading to the public, and should be discarded.
This is contained in a statement issued by the management of the ministry and signed by Mrs Janet McDickson, Director of Information and Public Relation in the ministry.
“Attention of Management and Staff of FMT has been drawn to a publication written by Sahara Reporters (online report) alleging that “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 statement noted that the Port Harcourt -Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project was awarded to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in November, 2020.
It said so far, the rehabilitation works had been completed from Port Harcourt to Aba and train services along the corridor was 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, “ it said.
According to statement, as part of preliminary works on the remaining section of the project which includes Gombe State, a recognizance survey was carried out in 2024.
It added that the survey was carried out along the entire rail line by the four stakeholders – the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Contractor and the Consultant.
It stated that there was no work going on in Gombe currently as falsely reported by a particular news medium.
