Financial issues delaying commencement of Port Harcourt standard gauge rail – Minister

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, has said the government is sorting out financial issues as it concerns the award of the Port Harcourt standard gauge rail line contract.

Senator Saidu, who spoke in Port Harcourt on the sideline of the inspection of the Port Harcourt Aba rail project, said work on the standard gauge rail project, which was awarded by the immediate past administration, will commence in April as soon as the financial issues concerning the project are sorted out.

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The “Contract for the standard gauge was awarded by the past administration so when we took over, we were trying to sort out the financing issues. There is no way you can start a project without making all the arrangements for the  finances.

“So as soon as the finances are ready, we are going to start. The government is serious and committed to developing all the rail projects in the country. We are trying to start the operation in April. I have directed the contractor to link Port Harcourt rail to Port Harcourt Port and Port Harcourt to Onne Port,” he said.