The Federal Government has secured financing for the entire Aba to Maiduguri corridor, cutting across Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Benue states, out of the 1443-kilometre Port Harcourt Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway Project.

Minister of Transport, Saidu Alkali, dropped the hint at the ongoing government-citizen engagement forum in Kaduna, yesterday.In a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister also revealed that the government had revamped the old Lagos-Kano Narrow Gauge and freight services linking Apapa to Kano Inland Dry Port. He gave assurances that the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Rail Line would be completed by next year.

The minister said at the inception of the President Bola Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023, the project stood at a 15 per cent work rate, adding that it is now 53 per cent complete. He further disclosed that funding to accelerate the pace of work had been secured through a bilateral agreement with the Chinese government.

Alkali added that 216 fresh road construction projects are ongoing in the region. He added that 312 road maintenance projects have been completed, while 50 others are ongoing.

According to the minister, several legacy projects, cutting across several states, are underway, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Calabar–Abuja Superhighway, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 14 road projects have been completed and commissioned. He added that several other road construction, rehabilitation and expansion works were ongoing nationwide in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

BESIDES, the government has commenced plans to support light rail projects in key northern states, starting with Kaduna and Kano, as part of efforts to enhance public transportation and boost economic productivity in the region.

Alkali disclosed this while chairing a discussion on infrastructure during a two-day interactive session, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation in Kaduna. He noted that the project is being supported through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

Speaking on the Renewed Hope Cities (RHC) Project, the minister said 3,112 housing units have been completed in Abuja, while Kano has 1,500 units and an additional 500-unit estate. In other states, 250-unit estates are being planned in each state, with those in Sokoto, Gombe, Yobe, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Benue states completed.

In a statement by the Director, Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Suleiman Haruna, the minister expressed optimism that the projects would create over 250,000 jobs across various sites, with workers earning an average monthly pay of ₦150,000. They will also stimulate the creation of building material hubs and attract over N70 billion in private investment, he added.