The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has kicked against the non-completion of the narrow-gauge eastern railway corridor.
The human rights advocacy organisation believes that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to finishing the $1.96 billion, 284-kilometer Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project to Niger Republic before his tenure ends in 2023.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the national coordinator of HURIWA, stated this in a statement on Friday, saying that it is most unfortunate that the president is more concerned with satisfying and comforting his Fulani cousins in Niger Republic than patriotic and legitimate Nigerians who will benefit immensely from the completion of the 2044.1km Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway project.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, recently said that the Eastern Railway Project had been stalled by the unavailability of the foreign loans required to fund it.
This is despite the earlier promise by the Buhari government that the project would be delivered before he leaves office.
“From day one, President Buhari has never been forthright and transparent about Eastern railway Project. Many excuses were adduced for the delay including insecurity but now this. This is despite the fact that Buhari approved $1.96 billion fund for the Kano-Maradi rail in Niger Republic,” HURIWA said.
“Of note, Buhari approved many external loans for the Niger Republic project. Reports by the Debt Management Office showed that Nigeria’s total external debt rose from $10.32bn on June 30, 2015, to $40.06bn as of June 30, 2022, over 288.18 per cent increase in seven years.
“…What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Every part of the country should be developed equally. No part should be treated as second class.”