FG starts talks with General Electric to concession train routes across the nation

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FG starts talks with General Electric to concession train routes across the nation

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Nigerian government has opened talks with General Electric (GE) over the concession information of the narrow gauge train routes across the country.
General Electric

General Electric

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi told journalists in Abuja, after a brief meeting with the President of GE, Jeffrey Immelt, that if the concession happens, GE will take over the narrow gauge rail infrastructure.Mr Ameachi said GE is expected to repair 25 locomotives that have been in the country since the tenure of the late General Sani Abacha.Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed that this is one of the five companies that have indicated interest in the proposed concession of the rail projects in the country.According to the Minister: “We are negotiating with GE to take over the narrow gauge in Nigeria, from Lagos to Kano, Funtua, Yobe and from Port Harcourt to Borno heading to Yobe’’.On the 25 locomotives, Mr Amaechi said: “We are saying that between now and when the concession agreement will be finalised, we want to see if they can revive the 25 locomotives that we have. They should see if they can get it to work and work efficiently”.“The 25 locomotives to be revived were supplied by GE during the era of Abacha. What we are trying to do now is to see how we can maintain them and put them back to use to increase the capacity of the Nigeria Railway Corporation so that they can travel from Lagos to Kano, Port Harcourt and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri as early as they want without having to spend four to five days before getting to their destination”. He added.Mr Amaechi noted that “Initially we had said $2billion but right now we cannot say if it’s less than that or above. We are however still at the level of talking”.On the 72billion for counterpart funding for Lagos to Ibadan project, the Minister said: “we have gotten the approval from China EXIM Bank and our counterpart funding is 72billion and China is contributing $1.5billion”.Mr Amaechi also hinted that “whoever gets the concession job will be in charge of the construction of the proposed Transport University”. Also speaking  on the concession plan, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Fidet Okhiria said, “the concession is open, we advertised yesterday for people interested to show interest and as at yesterday, five companies including GE have shown interest and all the companies will be accessed based on the pro-qualification requirements“.On Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Mr Ameachi explained before the end of March, new coaches will arrive to increase the frequency of movement.Source: Government

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