Nigeria secures USD 7.5 billion loan from China for a rail project

The Federal Government in Nigeria has secured USD 7.5 billion loan for the construction of standard rail gauge from Lagos to Kano. The USD 7.5 billion is part of the USD 30 billion loan the Federal Government seeks to take and for which it has sought approval from the National Assembly.

According to Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, the loan was secured from a Chinese bank and the ministry is waiting for approval of the National Assembly to access the loan. He said that USD 1. 4 billion of the loan was for the construction of the rail gauge from Lagos to Ibadan, while USD 6. 1 billion would be used on Ibadan–Ilorin– Minna-Kaduna– Kano line.

The minister added that Kaura Namoda–Funtua rail line would also be revived. He added that the central rail project from Itakpe to Warri would be completed before the end of 2017, while narrow gauge line from Ilorin–Minna would also commence during the year.

Amaechi said plans were under way to connect Abuja to other parts of the country through the central line at Warri, while the Jos Inland Port would be completed in June, this year. He said that a Lagos-Ijebu- Ode-Ore-Benin-Asaba- Agbor-Onisha-Sapele-Yenagoa- Port Harcourt-Uyo and Calabar coastal rail line would be constructed.


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