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• Published On: 12 March 2025 at 06:55

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has denied allegations that Minister Said Alkali moved a $3 billion railway project from the South-East to his home state of Gombe for political reasons.

Janet McDickson, the ministry's Director of Information, issued a statement on Tuesday dismissing the claims as "false, malicious, and misleading."

The ministry clarified that no railway construction is currently taking place in Gombe, and urged the online news platform to retract its report and apologize to the minister.

The statement read, "The Federal Ministry of Transportation's management and staff have been alerted to a publication by Sahara Reporters alleging that the transport minister diverted a $3 billion railway project from the South-East to his home state, Gombe, for political gain.

"The management has categorically stated that the report is false, misleading, and should be ignored.

"For the record, the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project was awarded to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in November 2020."

The ministry stated that work on the Port Harcourt-Aba section has been completed, and train services are now operational, while rehabilitation of the Aba-Enugu segment is still underway.

"The slow pace of work on the project is due to funding constraints, and the ministry is working closely with the contractor to secure the necessary funds for its completion," they said.

According to the ministry, the railway project is being carried out in stages, from Port Harcourt to Aba, then to Kafanchan, Kuru in Jos, and finally to Maiduguri.

It stated that in 2024, key stakeholders—the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the contractor, and the consultant—conducted a reconnaissance survey across the entire rail line, including Gombe.

However, it emphasized that no construction is currently underway in Gombe.

"The minister is committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians and fulfilling the ministry's mandate.

"We therefore urge Sahara Reporters to verify information before publication and to refrain from spreading falsehoods that mislead the public. "The ministry remains committed to President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, working tirelessly to expand the rail network and improve transportation nationwide," it added.