The Federal Ministry of Transportation has dismissed as false and misleading a Sahara Reporters’ claim that Nigeria’s Transport Minister, Senator Ahmed Alkali, diverted a $3 billion railway project from the South-East to his home state, Gombe, for political gain.
The Ministry clarified that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in November 2020, is progressing as planned. Completed segments include Port Harcourt to Aba, with train services currently operational. Work is ongoing between Aba and Enugu, focusing on substructures and superstructures.
The Ministry attributed the project’s slow pace to funding challenges and emphasized its commitment to securing funds to complete the work. It also clarified that a 2024 survey in Gombe was merely a preliminary assessment involving all relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Railway Corporation, the contractor, and the consultant. No active construction is ongoing in Gombe.
The Ministry demanded Sahara Reporters retract the report and issue a public apology to the Minister. It reaffirmed its dedication to advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by improving nationwide railway connectivity
