Victor Ezeja
Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Labour Party, Victor Umeh, has condemned what he felt was a deliberate omission of the Eastern rail line project in the 2025 budget.
The rail line project that connects parts of South-south from Port Harcourt through South-east, North-northwest to North-east in Maiduguri, Borno State had been abandoned for decades.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSpeaking when he raised a point of Order on the floor of the Senate, Senator Umeh recalled that he had on 23rd of November 2023, sponsored a motion, which was co-sponsored by 35 other Senators from the Eastern rail corridor on the need to construct standard gauge rail from Port Harcourt through Aba, Makurdi, to Maiduguri.
He further recalled that on the 19th of January when the 2025 budget proposal passed for second reading, he raised an observation about omission of the project in the bill. Umeh reminded the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, what he said that they should wait for the budget breakdown.
However, the breakdown came but there was no provision for the rail line project.
Part of his submission read: “I said that that corridor has no functional railway system, and none has been constructed there. It has been abandoned. And I was thinking that this bill would incorporate the need to build that railway. Also, drawing from the fact that on the 23rd of November, 2023, I sponsored a motion here and co-sponsored by 35 Senators on this corridor, on the need to construct standard gauge rail from Port Harcourt through Aba, Makurdi, to Maiduguri and no provision was made.
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“You recall that you were presiding on that date, and you told me that until the breakdown comes out, you might not be sure that that provision was not made.
“We waited and the breakdown came out, and that rail line has zero allocation; no money for that railway line. We took it up at the Committee level, Senator Adamu Aliero will bear me witness, but the Minister could not give any satisfactory answer.”
The senator lamented that even the additional appropriation request of about N4.5 trillion brought to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu has zero allocation for the rail line project.
“I said that those people who are using this rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri have been abandoned again. And this last provision in this budget, not even a dime was put on that railway line and it’s not acceptable to our people.
“So, am standing again to say, even though we are at the point of passing this budget, the Senate should take appropriate note of this.”
While calling on the Senate President to intervene, Umeh requested that the Eastern rail line project should be included in the next supplementary budget that will be brought to National Assembly for the good of the country, and the good of all.
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“I, therefore, raise a motion that the next supplementary budget that will be brought to this National Assembly should come with that,” he added.
Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, seconded Umeh’s motion, saying that the next supplementary budget coming to the National Assembly, should include the project.
Responding, the Senate President acknowledged the importance of the project being agitated for by Senator Umeh, adding that it has huge economic benefits to the three geo-political zones in particular and Nigeria in general.
Akpabio noted that the issue raised by Senator Umeh affects the three zones, and promised that they will work with the executive arm to ensure that the project is included in the next supplementary budget coming to the Senate.
According to him, “South South is involved, South-east is involved and North-east is also involved. When I was a young person, less than 10 years old, I took the train from Aba all the way to Zaria to attend an interview at the Nigeria Military School.
“So, we will take it up with the Executive so that it will be included in the Appropriation Act. It will ease movement create employment opportunities and assist in the movement of goods and services. So, I thank you for your motion and I thank our colleagues for their contributions.”
Prime Business Africa reports that the budget of N54.99 trillion was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday and now awaits assent by the president.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
