If we have not started rail line to North-East, don’t vote for me – Amaechi tells Gombe delegates
Immediate past Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, has told delegates of All Progressives Congress in Gombe not to vote for him, if he didn’t factor the state in the construction and reconstruction of railways nation wide, adding that loan was the reason for the delay in it take off.
The former governor of Rivers State disclosed on Saturday that efforts were underway to connect the North-East region from Port Harcourt.
According to him, his tenure as Minister didn’t abandon the region in terms of providing rail infrastructure, stressing that the greatest challenge was funds.
Amaechi said, “The Port Harcourt railway is the North-East railway. It starts at Port Harcourt and ends Maiduguri we have started work at Port Harcourt that is why I told them to verify, if we have not started it they should not vote for me.
“Why we have not broken it into about four, five compartments is because we have not gotten the loan. Once they get the loan between now and September, train will be working from Gombe towards Borno, Gombe to Yobe, Gombe to Bauchi, Bauchi to Jos then Port Harcourt to Enugu, Enugu to Markurdi.”
The presidential aspirant revealed that railway construction would soon be completed, adding that if he is elected he would ensure it completion peradventure his successor abandons the project.
“The federal government’s plan is to do the western flank, the eastern flank goes to Gombe and there is central flank from Abuja to Warri, we have done Itape to Warri remaining Abuja to Itape and Lokoja. Once we cover these three and then connect Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and one then Yola then we have completed railway in Nigeria,” Amaechi added.
On his part, State Chairman of the APC in Gombe State Nitte Amangal assured the aspirant of necessary support from delegates.
