By Tony Adibe
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali has expressed dismay over the moribond sleeper factory at Ishiagu Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, emphasizing that the current situation there was quite unacceptable.
NewsBits reports that the Nigeria Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway Project Ishiagu Concrete Sleepers Precast Base, when completed and functional, would manufacture sleepers to be used in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Narrow railway.
But upon visiting the plant on Friday at Ishiagu, the worried minister, who didn’t even have access into the factory because it was under lock and key, bemoaned the situation he saw during his inspection of the facility.
Briefing journalists after the inspection within the factory premises, Senator Alkali said: “My impression is not too good because is like when I came to the factory, there was no production going on. I seek for the explanation from the contractor, but he is saying that he has some challenges of funding.”
He quickly added: “So they have to sit up. It’s not something we can take.”
Senator Alkali began what he called the “final inspection” of the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt –Maiduguri railway from the Port Harcourt axis, through Aba and stopping over at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State plant before heading to Enugu.
The initial timeframe was for the Chinese contractor to complete and deliver the project in March 2024, according to the minister. However, the rather snail-speed coupled with the manual technology which the contractor deployed to execute the project, leaves much to be desired, he said. He noted that the federal government had provided its own part of the funding, leaving the contractor to also provide its own part.
The minister said: “We are coming from Port Harcourt; we came for inspection of our rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. When the project kick-started, we decided to fix from Port Harcourt to Aba as one segment; then we put that one into use.
“Last year, I was in Port Harcourt immediately when I assumed office as the minister of transportation, we did the inspection. So, we now came back for the final inspection in preparation of the freight from Port Harcourt to Aba; then we decided to come down to Ebonyi State to further inspect the sleepers’ factory at Ishiagu here in Ebonyi State which the contractor is using on the corridor so that we see by ourselves.”
Alkali, however, assured of the federal government’s commitment to tackling the challenges in the transportation sector, particularly the railway system to fashion it in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led government.
He explained that the railway system would play huge role in the socio-economic development of the country, adding, “Revitalization of the railway transportation system in Nigeria through standard gauge construction and narrow gauge is the flagship project of the President Tinubu-led administration. This project has been the mostly marketed by the transport ministry with huge capital investment.”
Senator Alkali told newsmen at the Ishiagu plant, that the railway project on completion would open up the hinterland, provide impetus for foreign and domestic trade, agricultural and industrial development as well as stimulating rapid urbanization. Asked about the specification and deadline to compete the project, the Minister explained: “Contract for the standard gauge was awarded by the past administration so when we took over, we were trying to sort out the financing. There is no way you can start a project without making all the arrangements for the finances.
“Government is serious and committed to developing all the projects in the country. We have just finished the inspection of the Port Harcourt-Aba rail line and are trying to start the operation in April.”
The Minister, however, promised that something should be done because the reconstruction is aimed at reaching Enugu State, despite the complaint of funds scarcity.
“So, they should gear up to raise their own part so that we continue what we intend to do from Port Harcourt, we make progress to Enugu; and from Port Harcourt, we try to see how we can link Port Harcourt to Onne and Port Harcourt Port, so that we start freight from Port Harcourt to Aba, being one of the major commercial cities in the southeast.”
