By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Transportation Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has disclosed that he got an approval of the cabinet to procure rolling stocks for the operation and maintenance and rolling stocks operational maintenance equipment for the new railway projects corridors in Ibadan to Kano Standard Gauge and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Narrow Gauge rail lines to the tune of $2, 810, 574, 064.92 including 7.5 per cent tax.
This is even as he has denied any knowledge that there was an attack on a train in Kogi state recently, saying that the information at his disposal did not suggest that a train was attacked at train station.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday Amaechi said that the rolling stocks which are consumables will the problems of breakdowns of the trains.
Said he: “I have an approval of the cabinet to procure rolling stocks for the operation and maintenance and rolling stocks operational maintenance equipment for the new railway projects corridors in Ibadan to Kano Standard Gauge and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Narrow Gauge rail lines to the tune of $2, 810, 574, 064.92 including 7.5 per cent tax”.
“Thank you. Rolling stocks are consumables, they are rolling stock. When you say rolling stocks they are consumables for the maintenance and operation of the railway”.
“So, currently, anytime you hear sometimes the reason for the break down which was discussed in the cabinet is because maybe we have run out of rolling stock. And we also run out of stock for the railway. So with this, we will replace all the rolling stock”.
“They are essentially the consumables we use to maintain the trains coaches and locomotives. Thank you”.
Asked to speak on the recent incident of an attack on a train in Kogi state, Amaechi said: “The report I got wasn’t at the rail station, it was on their way out of the station. Our responsibility inside the station. But again, you’re right. I really have to go and find out the level of armed security in the station”.
“We’ve never been attacked inside the station. Well, that does not mean we should not find out. So I thank you for reminding me to cross check. They are supposed to be policemen at every station because we have rail way Police”.
“So let me not just assume that they are there because we have never been attacked in the station. Thank you. I will try and do that in the next one week to find out that this policemen actually present in the decision. The report I got from them was that on their way home the road from the station to the community that they were attacked”.
“But I didn’t hear that they were killed. I will find out from the the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation”.
