Nigeria’s Transport Ministry Denies Claims of Diverted $3bn Railway Project
2 min read
The Federal Ministry of Transportation has strongly denied allegations that Transport Minister Said Alkali redirected a $3bn railway project from the South-East to his home state of Gombe for political reasons.
Responding to a report published by Sahara Reporters, the ministry issued a statement on Tuesday through its Director of Information, Janet McDickson, describing the claims as “false, malicious, and misleading.” The statement called for the online platform to retract its report and issue an apology to the minister.
“The attention of the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Transportation has been drawn to a publication alleging that the transport minister diverted a $3bn railway project from the South-East to his home state, Gombe, for political gain,” the statement read.
“The management categorically states that the report is false, misleading, and should be disregarded.”
Railway Project Faces Delays, Not Diversion
Providing further clarity, the ministry explained that the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in November 2020. According to officials, work has already been completed on the Port Harcourt–Aba section, with train services now operational. The segment between Aba and Enugu remains under construction, though progress has been slow due to funding constraints.
The ministry outlined that the railway project follows a sectional approach, progressing from Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Kafanchan, Kafanchan to Kuru (Jos), and finally Kuru to Maiduguri. It also confirmed that while a reconnaissance survey was carried out across the entire railway corridor, including Gombe, no construction is currently taking place in the state.
Ministry Calls for Responsible Journalism
The statement reiterated the minister’s commitment to delivering on the government’s infrastructure agenda, urging media platforms to verify claims before publication.
“The minister is focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians and remains committed to fulfilling the mandate of the ministry,” it said.
“We, therefore, urge Sahara Reporters to verify information before publication and desist from spreading falsehoods that mislead the public. The ministry remains dedicated to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, working tirelessly to expand the rail network and improve transportation nationwide.”
The controversy highlights the challenges facing Nigeria’s railway modernisation efforts, where project delays and political scrutiny continue to spark debate.
About The Author
