The Federal Executive Council of Nigeria has approved the development of a rail line in the northern part to link it with the neighbouring Niger Republic at a cost of $1.96bn. This was announced today by the Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi after the council meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The project involves the construction of a 284-km single track standard gauge rail line from Kano to Maradi in Niger through Katsina and Jibia, and a 93-km branch line from Kano to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
Apart from the Kano-Maradi rail project, Mr Amaechi said that the council also approved the award of a contract worth N3.049bn (US$ 7.99m) for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of a 150-ton railway crane which will be used for clearing rail tracks in emergency situations.
“That’s the first memo that was approved for the Ministry of Transportation.
“The second one is the award of a contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5% VAT,’’ he said.
In October 2018, Mota-Engil Africa was listed as the preferred bidder for the Kano-Maradi rail project. The EPC contract involves the design and construction of the rail line and the associated stations.
The approval comes after the company’s expertise to execute the project was confirmed by a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission. The Ministry of Transport then sought approval from the Federal Executive Council.
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