The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mota- Engil Group, a multinational engineering and construction company, for the construction of $1.959 Billion Kano to Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line project. This was disclosed by the Ministry of Transportation via Twitter.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in a statement by Eric Ojiekwe, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, said the project was aimed at linking the whole country by rail.
The new rail line, located in northern Nigeria, will run through Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states and terminate in Niger Republic territory. It will link cities such as Danbatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina and Jibiya in Nigeria.
Amaechi signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government while the Managing Director of Mota- Engil, Antonio Gvoea signed on behalf of the contracting firm.
According to a statement by the spokesman, Ministry of Transportation, Eric Ejiekwe, the Minister said the 283.750-kilometre rail line, besides developing freight and passenger transport, will be integrated with road transport and would make a great contribution to the local economy as well as an important development in the social sector.
The minister noted that the project will be completed in 3 years and the contract type is engineering, procurement and construction.
Amaechi has said the inauguration of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line had been put on hold due to upsurge of COVID-19 in the country.
According to him, over 60 staff on the project site have been infected while trying to complete the project.
The signing was witnessed by Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Transportation Ministry; Pius Oteh, the Ministry’s Director of Legal Services and Cameron Beverley, Head of Legal Unit, Mota- Engil Group.
Kola Abdulkarim, Director, Mota- Engil Group; Yusuf Tuggar, Nigerian Ambassador to Germany; Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among others were also present at the signing.