FG Launches $3.2bn P’Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, Bonny Deep Sea Port Projects
*Enugu to Awka-Onitsha-Abakaliki rail connection undergoing feasibility studies, says Amaechi
The federal government Tuesday launched the Port Harcourt- Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, Bonny Deep Sea Port and the Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt rehabilitation and reconstruction projects estimated at the cost of $3.2 billion.
Under the arrangement, the federal government is expected to provide 15 per cent counterpart funding, while 85 percent of the funding would be through Chinese loans.
The three projects are to be handled by a conglomerate led by Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited.
President Muhammadu Buhari who performed the virtual groundbreaking ceremony said that the three projects when completed will open up the dormant economic activities on the eastern corridor.
He said, ”The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost trans-shipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area.
”The sum of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these projects includes creation of massive employment locally. In addition, there will be further utilisation of local contents and technology transfer, increase in internally generated revenue and would serve as a fulcrum for the achievement of the federal government planned integrated development master plan.
”We are further expanding it to achieve contemporary demand for transport in the North-east and Southern geopolitical zones of the country. It is also designed to link other standard gauge rail lines under construction through the provision of trans-shipment centres.”
Buhari called on manufacturers and other industrialists to build new factories in area with the transport infrastructure coming in the zone.
He explained that the Bonny Deep Sea Port and the railway industrial park would bre handled through direct investments coming from Chinese partners and other international financing agencies.
He described the three projcts and basically meant to serve transportation and supply chain network for domestic needs and export, adding that this will also support imports through the new deep sea port in Bonny Island.
He added, ”This improved port is designed to be a regional and international transport hub. In line with the global trends, the Railway Industrial Park will have the capability for processing exports of raw materials with value addition and also export of locally made goods.
”In planning this project, prudent use of resources has been given priority, as by this endeavour, Nigeria will retrieve the old narrow gauge that has been lying in neglect for years and bring it to full functional state commensurate to a national railway service at a rational price.”
”The Bonny Deep Sea Port has a container terminal of 500,000 TEU (20 foot equivalent unit) per annum capacity and 100,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) Berth.
”The Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt, would be supported by necessary infrastructure including power, water, waste disposal, ICT and gas distribution as well as transportation, logistics centres and ancillaries.”
The Transportation Minister, Hon Rotimi Amaechi who performed the cutting of the tape to unveil the plaque on behalf of the President said his Ministry was working to implement the Nigeria railway modernisation project and expand the railway network.
Amaechi said that following this the rail line connection from Enugu to Awka-Onitsha and Abakaliki was undergoing necessary feasibility studies and preparation of conceptual design.
The federal government Tuesday launched the Port Harcourt- Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, Bonny Deep Sea Port and the Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt rehabilitation and reconstruction projects estimated at the cost of $3.2 billion.
Under the arrangement, the federal government is expected to provide 15 per cent counterpart funding, while 85 percent of the funding would be through Chinese loans.
The three projects are to be handled by a conglomerate led by Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited.
President Muhammadu Buhari who performed the virtual groundbreaking ceremony said that the three projects when completed will open up the dormant economic activities on the eastern corridor.
He said, ”The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost trans-shipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area.
”The sum of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these projects includes creation of massive employment locally. In addition, there will be further utilisation of local contents and technology transfer, increase in internally generated revenue and would serve as a fulcrum for the achievement of the federal government planned integrated development master plan.
”We are further expanding it to achieve contemporary demand for transport in the North-east and Southern geopolitical zones of the country. It is also designed to link other standard gauge rail lines under construction through the provision of trans-shipment centres.”
Buhari called on manufacturers and other industrialists to build new factories in area with the transport infrastructure coming in the zone.
He explained that the Bonny Deep Sea Port and the railway industrial park would bre handled through direct investments coming from Chinese partners and other international financing agencies.
He described the three projcts and basically meant to serve transportation and supply chain network for domestic needs and export, adding that this will also support imports through the new deep sea port in Bonny Island.
He added, ”This improved port is designed to be a regional and international transport hub. In line with the global trends, the Railway Industrial Park will have the capability for processing exports of raw materials with value addition and also export of locally made goods.
”In planning this project, prudent use of resources has been given priority, as by this endeavour, Nigeria will retrieve the old narrow gauge that has been lying in neglect for years and bring it to full functional state commensurate to a national railway service at a rational price.”
”The Bonny Deep Sea Port has a container terminal of 500,000 TEU (20 foot equivalent unit) per annum capacity and 100,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) Berth.
”The Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt, would be supported by necessary infrastructure including power, water, waste disposal, ICT and gas distribution as well as transportation, logistics centres and ancillaries.”
The Transportation Minister, Hon Rotimi Amaechi who performed the cutting of the tape to unveil the plaque on behalf of the President said his Ministry was working to implement the Nigeria railway modernisation project and expand the railway network.
Amaechi said that following this the rail line connection from Enugu to Awka-Onitsha and Abakaliki was undergoing necessary feasibility studies and preparation of conceptual design.
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