The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi was a guest on Arise TV morning show in Lagos.
There, he unfolded plans by the federal government to take more Chinese loans to expand rail services to more states.
Amaechi, who featured on ‘The Morning Show,’ a program on ARISE NEWS, said the federal government had already begun negotiations for the loans.
![Rotimi Amaechi And Lai Mohammed At Lagos Ibadan Railway Inspection](https://autoreportng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/117436869_10158972401321995_5101707413248042807_n.jpg)
If granted, it will balloon Nigeria’s public debt stock, which, according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), stood at $87.239 billion as of March 31, 2021.
Here are 10 takeaways from his interview about the railway system
1) Personally Recommending ‘manslaughter’ to FG as one of the charges against Railtrack vandals, that is, anyone caught destroying railway assets in the country should be tried for manslaughter.
2) e-ticketing for Lagos – Ibadan rail will commence once bidding is completed and FEC approves
3) Ibadan to Abuja Standard Gauge Railway Project will include the following stops; Osogbo, Ilorin, and Minna. The project will be about 80% complete by the end of this administration
4) Contractor for Kaduna to Kano Railway Project has been paid a deposit, work to commence this month, all things being equal
![NNPC_Pipeline_AKK_Rail](https://autoreportng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NNPC_Pipeline_AKK_Rail-scaled.jpg)
5) Contractor for PH to Maiduguri Railway has also been paid a deposit, work will commence this month, all other things being equal
6) President Buhari directed the construction of a Standard Guage Railway from PH to Maiduguri
7) Negotiations are ongoing with various groups to manage other narrow gauge railway lines across the country
8) There is sufficient Armed Security in all coaches and train stations
9) Prior to Deep Blue Security Project. FG spent about $67million per annum for OMS. Deep Blue will work in collaboration with all security agencies/forces to secure Nigeria’s coast, free trade zones, ports and waterways
10) Contesting presidential elections in 2023? “No discussion about politics -I am currently Minister for Transport”
![Lagos-Ibadan Trains](https://autoreportng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/7W0Anhm.jpg)
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