Federal Government on Saturday expressed dismay over the slow pace of work on the construction of the 203.8 Kilometers standard guage railway track between Kano and Kaduna state.
Speaking during the inspection of the project in Kano, Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, expressed disappointment over the slow manner the work is going, accusing the handlers of the project China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) of playing politics with the project.
He however, summoned the CCECC to meet with the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) on March 11, 2022, to give reasons why the work have become so slow.
However, 78 kilo meters of the 204 kilometers rail line have been graded, less than 5 per cent of the entire length, while the project which commenced last year recorded only 5 per cent completion.
Ameachi who was obviously unsatisfied said he shall by Wednesday tell the contractors the peace of his mind and if no change is observed within the shortest possible, he time will address Nigerians on what the CCECC is doing concerning the project.
According to him, “I think CCECC is beginning to play politics with this project. And they have moved away from focus on construction. I will not say more than this until I meet them on Wednesday. The speed is extremely slow, adding that I will only address the country when I finish speaking with them on Wednesday. I will tell them my mind if there is no difference, then I will tell the country what they are doing” he said.
On the readiness of the Kano Dala Inland Dry Port, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu, Managing Director, Dala Inland Dry Port, said it is feasible for the Port to commence operations within a couple of weeks.
Rabiu said most of the construction works have been completed and ready for operations.
“It is feasible to commence operations in this Port within the next couple of weeks. We have been guaranteed it would be completed within a week. The gate house would be completed within the next seven days while administrative building is 100 percent completed” he said.
He assured that by March 31, the Port would be ready for the Minister to declare it open as the Port of origin, and destination, stressing that relevant experts have been recruited to commence operations.
