The Senate has asked Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi,
to appear before it and explain why the eastern corridor of the country’s rail
lines was excluded from the proposed loan from the China Exim Bank.
In April this year, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a letter
to the National Assembly, asking for approval to borrow $5.851 billion for the
upgrade of various sections of the country’s railway.
The resolution of the Senate on Tuesday, was a follow up to
a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Abia south, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“The eastern section of the rail segment, which has a link
between the south-east to the north-eastern parts of the rail line is
completely excluded from the request.
“The loan being a federal government borrowing would be paid
for by all sections of the country, therefore every section of the country
should be taken into consideration.
“There is a railway master plan developed by the ministry of
transport and of which such plans has not been referred to in the current
borrowing plan,” Abaribe said.
By Ifreke Inyang
