NewStats: 3,263,746 , 8,181,240 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 05:11 PM 1pi3u

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, has slammed the contractor handling the reconstruction of the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri narrow gauge rail line, describing the project as disappointing.

He stated this while fielding questions from newsmen during an inspection visit to work sites in Port Harcourt and Kom Kom Community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday.

While berating the contractor for using poor-quality material, he expressed doubts about the contractor’s capacity to complete the project in record time, describing the firm as unserious.

Alkali expressed annoyance that the project which was stipulated for three years had only attained 45 per cent completion after 12 months.



He stated, “I’m here in Port Harcourt in continuation of my inspection visit of all the railway projects across the country.

“This inspection is starting from Lagos, where we moved to Kano to inspect Mararadi and then to Daura to inspect the transportation university.

“So we are in Port Harcourt to inspect the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri reconstruction and rehabilitation of the eastern narrow gauge.


“I am disappointed in what I have seen because this contract was signed for 36 months and it’s to cover over 2000km. So far event from Port Harcourt to Aba is around 47 per cent.”


Continuing, Alkali said, “Ideally it is supposed to cover 47 per cent of the entire 2000km which by now we should be around plateau or so, and yet we are still struggling to be in Abia before the end of the year.

“I am not happy, in fact, I am disappointed. They are using manual alignment to lay the rail tracks in this 21st century. In this era of technology, if you are not ready for something, don’t even start it.

“The funding was made for 18 per cent to be provided by the federal government while 85 per cent to be provided by CCECC since the project kick-started the funding is only done with the federal government of 15 per cent. It shows how unserious the CCECC is in of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project.”

On the next line of action, he said, “We have to go back to the ministry because whatsoever we do must be between the ambit of the law, whatsoever the law provides, I will make sure to enforce it.

“The project was signed last two years but the actual construction started last year, but even in a year’s time if you cannot cover Port Harcourt to Aba in 12 months, then how can you cover over 2000km in 36 months?

On the significance of the project, the minister said it will link the two seaports in Rivers State up to Maiduguri (Borno State) thereby enhancing regional trading.


He added “Cost of trading will be low, by the time we have started the enger train. It will go a long way to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy withdrawal.”

https://punchng.com/port-harcourt-maiduguri-railway-minister-slams-contractor-says-project-disappointing/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social

Nigeria is a criminal istration entity. This minister will rave as if he will do anything, then return to his office and another 4 years will .

Finally, Rotimi Amaechi is useless to himself, useless to his community and useless to his state of origin.

A shame of a human being.

Umai is now coming to play unlike some camcorder minister.

They are working with the 15% counterpart fund from FG. Let the chinese provide the 85% so work can move fast to Plateu

Q

They are using manual alignment to lay the rail tracks in this 21st century.
In this era of technology, if you are not ready for something, don’t even start it.
God help Nigeria!

Funding is the issue. Contractors are trying to play smart by working at a slower pace.

Let those with the responsibilities of given Contracts also do away from kickback, it's better to slam the Contractors when they do shabby works but it's also necessary to ensure contractors are well equipped in order to deliver on the assignments.

Meanwhile for every shabby works, it's a waste of our common wealth and resources and it will tell on everyone of us directly or indirectly.

Going forward Competent bodies should be engaged in order to achieve require level of qualities.

Quality control body should wake up, Standard Organization of Nigeria should rise to their responsibility.

Government body and those at the helm of affairs should lead us well and do away with bribes.

We should all serve with all sense of dedication and selflessness.

God Bless Nigeria

They should keep the momentum; not retreating after initial gra gra

All these Buhari white elephant projects
like Kano to Niger Republic and PH to
Maiduguri should be cancelled.


Nigeria doesn't currently have money &
Buhari don borrow so much money that
nobody is ready to lend Nigeria money
anymore▪️🔸◾️◽️🔹▫️😞

We hope say una go finish the project sha

No need for plenty grammar!!!

APC is EVIL. Amaechi is stvpid

Everyone scamming the country as they feel like including the Chinese investors that promised 85% funding only to work with FG 15% and not bringing any money, this is what Igbos always l
lament about, imagine they have not completed Port Harcourt in Aba in one year, mind you this is an existing railway line not like they are building a virgin line

They were awarded the contract when they are known not to be competent to do the project but kickbacks was more important.

The minister is just making noise, that project will not be completed come 2027.

E

A welcome development

When you give job to China Civil Engineering Construction company, do you expect quality materials? We have capable engineers and engineering firm. Buit any job of note is either ceded to Chinese or other foreign companies. 45% completion in one year of three seems to be fast enough. The challenge here is the identified poor materials!!!

Every minister blowing hot so as to be seen as been serious

Time will tell if they are truly serious or just playing to the gallery

My eyes is fixed on the super highway minister

Another scammer claiming smart.
The will claim they are serious, then revoked the contract and reissued same to their friends or company of their interest.
Forget this country. Nigeria needs a prof. Zulum kind of a president that will go on supervision and makes his ministers and appointees to sit up.

Sanction the erring contractor.
Let capable hands handle these.
We should also encourage indigenous companies to grow by giving some of these contracts to deserving ones.

🤔

Initial gra gra...slam without consequences is an Audio act.




Wittyness

Kk

dalongjnr:
Another scammer claiming smart.
The will claim they are serious, then revoked the contract and reissued same to their friends or company of their interest.
Forget this country. Nigeria needs a prof. Zulum kind of a president that will go on supervision and makes his ministers and appointees to sit up.

Honestly, you just can't hate prof Zulum, he's the only leader in Nigeria that is thinking about the masses and the next generation.
Despite the high level of insecurity, destruction of borno state by Boko Haram and iswap, this man is still moving around, trying his best to ensure everything is going well in borno state.
God bless prof zulum

DrGoodman:
Finally, Rotimi Amaechi is useless to himself, useless to his community and useless to his state of origin.
A shame of a human being.

God bless your Mr Goodman!
The principality and power behind is the Ameachi - factor, together with the former President Buhari - who did not understand the dynamics of Econometrics of the System we are Operating - so , instead of Buhari to get the job done by meticulously Checking and Firing his Non- Performance Ministers,they were all deceiving him and to the dismayed of Nigerians-,they were all playing him- with Ameachi even running around the Rivers Stadium, as a Presidential Candidate!
- till date Amaechi have not ed for the $ dollar/ Naira equivalents of the Railways in Nigeria - yet somebody will say 'Nigeria is not good '
Or you say we are very Corrupt! In the words of the British PM then,' Nigeria is Fantastically Corrupt'.
- the CCCE of China,are really colluding with Nigerian Politicians to defraud this Country but in China, Corruption is death Sentences- they dare not used fake or Inferior Materials- it's death sentences!
- Most of the Agreement, should be visited by the New Transportation Minister-,as many are written in Chinese Language ( Mandarin)! What a shame of a Nation!
- till date the National Assembly have failed Nigeria and when they did their Oversight Functions the,it was abandoned because Amaechi was grilled but power from above stepped in to halt the Probes then! So,Alkhali have a lot of work to do!
Many of those Politicians under Buhari , really messed up and gone underground, possibly waiting for the next 4- yrs before coming to test the Political waters! We are waiting for them!
Very Shameful Indeed

Rotimi Amaechi is a disgrace to South South. He forgot his own region and was busy constructing railway to Nigér Republic.

He also abandon Maritime University under construction in the creeks of Niger Delta and focus on Transport University in Katsina State.

No single mega Federal project to him for in River State. He was just a*ss licking Fulani for 8 years like the vulture griller MANNABBQGRILLz

When you that the Minister of Transport under whose watch that project was awarded was Rotimi Chibuike Amechi, a Rivers man then you understand the kind of irresponsible animals that govern Nigeria at all levels

DrGoodman:
Finally, Rotimi Amaechi is useless to himself, useless to his community and useless to his state of origin.

A shame of a human being.

In summary a useless man.