We could not believe our eyes when we read on Daily Trust Newspaper of Monday, January 31, 2017 a blatant criticism by Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of the rail project of Kano to Kaduna line. His argument in the news article was that “The Federal Governments plan to
invest 1.2 billion US dollars to build a standard gauge Railway from Kano to Kaduna is a misplacement of priority because that amount of money can build all Federal highways in the North West Zone”. He added that “The money could be more usefully deployed in the areas that have a stronger potential to kick start economic and social activities in the region”. By implication, the senator is suggesting that the Federal Government should re-consider the project with a view to shelving it.
With all due respect to the distinguish senator who I first like to remind of the prophetic saying that “whosoever believes in Allah and the day of judgment, he should say what is good or keep quiet.” I therefore find it amazing that Magatakarda chose to ignore this injunction knowing fully well that his statement will not only injure feelings of his fellow kinsmen but will also deny millions of his brothers and sisters living within the relevant geographic locale a benefit of our collective existence.
Furthermore, the distinguished senator must have been aware of similar projects, the Lagos – Ibadan rail-line estimated to cost $1.4 billion dollars which has already been approved by government and the transaction commenced.
It may be that the senator is afraid of the South-West politicians brouhaha and therefore chose to put his hammer on his fellow kinsmen whom out of modesty may allow him to get away with his awkward views.
Mr. Senator Sir, what you have said is not good for politics and is not good for human dignity. I should have expected the Magatakarda to use his political weight for the reinvigoration of the Kaura namoda old rail line and not to fight Rotimi Amaechi for his Pan-Nigerian and people centred initiative.
However, if Wamakko wanted just to be heard in the media to prove to his Sokoto political opponents that he too can speak on National issues, please let him find another subject especially as there are plenty in the sphere of basic and secondary education and leave Buhari’s Administration to execute its primary mandate to the people, especially in the area of infrastructural development for the populous but neglected areas of the federation. For the benefit of the distinguished senator and the general public, let me reiterate that the Kaduna-Kano Rail line is part of the initiative of Buhari’s Administration to develop the railway sector to boost economic activities in the country, to facilitate safe movement of people and properties and reduce fatalities on our roads. On this sphere, the Federal Government secured 7.5 billion dollars loan for the construction of standard rail gauge from Lagos – to – Kano.
In this context, N1.4 billion was for Lagos-Ibadan rail line while 6.1 billion dollars would be used for Ibadan – Ilorin – Minna – Kaduna – Kano line. Currently, the Federal Government is also completing the Itakpe-to – Warri rail line before the end of the year, while work on the Eastern rail flank linking Aba to Port Harcourt, Makurdi, Enugu and Jos would commence in June. It also plans to construct the Lagos – Ijebu – Ode-Ore-Benin – Asaba – Agbor – Onisha – Sapele – Yanagoa – Port Harcourt – Uyo and Calabar coastal rail line said minister Amaechi.
No doubt, the Buhari Administration should be commended highly for proposing this project and not to be condemned by a high ranking APC card carrying member in the person of Alhaji Wamakko.
Indeed what is most amazing in this discourse is the fact that the distinguished senator seems either ignorant or non chalant in the almost total absence of his primary constituency in the 2017 budget allocations for highway projects. These are projects on roads that serve as “links between the major routes and agricultural producing hubs, factories and mining deposits for the evacuation of agricultural produce, manufactured goods and raw materials to markets and across the country.” If he cared to look at it, he would have found that among the numerous National priority projects in this sector spread across all the nooks and corners of this country, only Sokoto – Tambuwal – Jega – Kontagora – Makera road is listed, probably courtesy
of the current Governor of Sokoto Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Keep on Minister Ameachi and please next time work hard to upgrade Kaura Namoda rail line and link it to Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi. Upgrade and rehabilitate the Roads in Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto axis.
– Sufi is of mni
Kano LEADS Abuja Chapter