FG makes major annoucement on Calabar-Lagos rail project
– The federal government has clarified its position on the Calabar-Lagos project
– A spokesman said the project was in fact captured in the 2016 budget
– The news comes amid growing calls for the resignation of transport minister Rotimi Amaechi
In what appears to be a rebuttal to the National Assembly’s position that the Calabar-Lagos railway project was not captured in the 2016 budget, the federal government has insisted that the project was in fact duly submitted and accepted by the National Assembly for approval.
It will be recalled that there had been a bout of brickbats between the executive and the legislature over the former’s claims that the National Assembly in the course of parliamentary debates and scrutiny of the Appropriation Bill expunged the project.
However, in a statement by the Media Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning Mr James Akpandem, the federal government insisted that the relevant committees of the parliament received the document.
READ ALSO: Amaechi mentioned Lagos-Calabar railway in budget defence
“In view of the recent controversies surrounding the 2016 budget, it has become necessary to state the following so as to set the facts straight,” Mr Akpandem said.
“Immediately this was received the President, desirous of signing the document into law as soon as possible, directed that copies should be made available to the heads of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
Many Nigerians are calling for Amaechi’s resignation
“Ministers were asked to go through the details and give their reactions as it affects their respective ministries so as to guide the president and enable him to sign the Appropriation Bill into law.
“That process is still on-going and no statement has been issued by the Executive on the matter, apart from the one by the Honourable Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohamnmed, to confirm that details of the budget are being examined.”
Transport minister Rotimi Amaechi previously confirmed the inclusion of the rail project in the federal project
Mr Akpandem went on to stress that that no final decision had been made by President Buhari and that both railway projects linking Lagos to Kano and Calabar are of crucial importance to the current administration.
He went on to slam the federal budget officer for making a series of errors in the drawing up of the budget which were then corrected by the transport ministry.
Many Nigerians are calling for Amaechi’s resignation
“The amended Ministry of Transportation budget was accepted by the relevant committees and that was the version defended by the Minister of Transportation and his team.
“It must be emphasized that the two rail projects are part of those for which the President is currently negotiating funding with the Chinese government.
READ ALSO: Amaechi should resign – Nigerians react and blast senate
“The N60b provided in the budget for the Lagos – Kano and Calabar – Lagos rail lines, respectively, is counterpart funding, to support the Chinese financing for the projects.
“These projects are part of the Strategic Implementation Plan of the government which was disclosed by the Minister of Budget and National Planning at the National Economic Council Retreat in March 2016, in the presence of state governors. They were also mentioned by the Vice President last week in Lagos at The Nation Newspaper’s First National Economic Forum. “It is hoped that with this clarification, the raging controversy over the Calabar – Lagos rail project will be put to rest.”
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