FG tells GE to revive 25 locomotives ordered by Abacha

Published by

THE Federal Government has appealed to General Electric (GE) to revive about 25 railway locomotives ordered into the country by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

According to a statement signed on Tuesday by the Director of Press of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Yetunde Sonaike, and made available to Tribune Online, the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said this when the Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Jeff Immelt and his team paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Amaechi hinted that while the negotiations with GE is ongoing, the Federal Government is very much interested on how GE would revive the 25 Locomotives supplied to Nigeria by GE during the late General Sani Abacha’s regime between now and when the concession agreement would be finalised. He emphasised that if they are revived, it would help to reduced the volume of heavy duty Trucks on the roads and consequently, make the roads to last for longer time.

According to him, “we are negotiating with GE to take over the narrow gauge from Lagos – Kano-Funtua-Yobe, and from Port Harcourt to Borno.

“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 Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) so that they can travel from Lagos to Port Harcourt and, to Maiduguri as early as they want without having to spend four to five days before getting to their destinations.”

The Minister also reiterated that the Federal Government has received approval from China EXIM Bank for the N72 billion counterparts funding for Lagos-Ibadan Railway line project. He stated that China Government will contribute $1.5billion for this project.

Corroborating, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation,(NRC) Fidet Okhira opined that the concession was open through Advert placements noting that Five (5) companies have already indicated interest in the concesioning process and GE is one of them.

 

Recent Posts

Lagos LG poll: APC inaugurates five-man appeal committee

“Sequel to the successful conduct of primaries for the emergence of candidates towards the July…

8 minutes ago

FG delivers equipment, accessories for 132kv power substations in Ekiti

The federal government has intensified efforts to boost electricity supply in Ekiti State with the…

19 minutes ago

Army dismantles 21 illegal refineries, arrests 36 oil thieves in Niger Delta

"In Delta State, around Ovrogbor waterside in Isoko South LGA, troops pursued two Toyota Camry…

22 minutes ago

OFFCUT: Petrol price slash only seen online, not at filling stations — Netizens lament

@Amaechi Kenneth wrote, “Only on social media. We don't see it reflect on the citizens” 

25 minutes ago

Countries where Alcohol is illegal in 2025

In 2025, while alcohol remains a common part of social life in many parts of…

33 minutes ago

FG asks NASS to expedite passage of key labour bills

Federal Government on Monday tasked National Assembly on the urgent need to accelerate the passage…

53 minutes ago

Welcome

Install

This website uses cookies.