The Federal Government has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Mota- Engil Group on the construction of $1.959billion Kano-Maradi
Standard Gauge Railway lines.
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.
Amaechi signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government while the
Managing Director, Mota- Engil, Antonio Gvoea signed on behalf of the
contracting firm.
According to the Minister, the new railway corridor which is to be
located in northern Nigeria will run through Kano, Jigawa and Katsina
and through Niger Republic territory as far as Maradi.
He said other cities such as Danbatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina
and Jibiya would also be affected by the rail line in Nigeria.
The minister said the 283.750 kilometre rail line would help develope
freight and passenger transport as it would be integrated with road
transport.
He added that it would contribute greatly to the local economy as well
as the nation’s social sector.
According to Amaechi, the duration for the project is 36 months and the
contract type is Engineering, Procurement and Construction.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Ministry’s Permanent, Dr
Magdalene Ajani, the Director, Legal Services, Pius Oteh, the Managing
Director, Mota-Engil Group, Antonio Gvoea and Head of Legal, Mota- Engil
Group, Cameron Beverley.
It was also witnessed by Magajin Garin Kano, Muhammad Wada, Director,
Mota-Engil Group, Kola Abdulkarim, Vice President, Mota-Engil Group,
Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, among others.
He added that the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar and the
Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman among
other dignitaries also witnessed the signing. (NAN)