The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Suleiman, says the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway project will be completed by December in spite of its challenges.
Suleiman told newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that the challenges included the delay in the arrival of sleepers for the rehabilitation project.
“The only challenge we are facing now is the issue of ballast; the quarry where the ballast are crushed at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State is subject of controversy but of course, we are going to sort the matter out.
The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Suleiman, says the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway project will be completed by December in spite of its challenges.
Suleiman told newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that the challenges included the delay in the arrival of sleepers for the rehabilitation project.
“The only challenge we are facing now is the issue of ballast; the quarry where the ballast are crushed at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State is subject of controversy but of course, we are going to sort the matter out.
“Because the quarry belongs to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), then, there shouldn’t be any reason why we should have such problem whatsoever.
“Apart from that, the construction company assured us that by first or second week of May, other materials that are waiting to be delivered would arrive into the country,“ the minister said.
Suleiman said as soon as all the materials arrived and the issue of the ballast sorted out, the project would be completed in six months.
The minister, who was on inspection tour of the project materials in Port Harcourt, also addressed the workers, assuring them that the project would be inaugurated in December.
Suleiman said that he was impressed with the morale of the workers.
“It is our hope that at the end of the year, just as we went to Lagos to celebrate the commencement of train service from Lagos to Kano, the trains will be back on track here, from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
“I know how passionate all of you are, how interested you are about the resumption of the services; I want to assure you that the management will continue to receive our support,“ he said.
A representative of the workers, Woyengidengiyefa Ikoni, said they were anxious to see the completion of the project.
“If trains are not seen on track, it looks as if we are not doing anything,“ Ikoni said.
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