TheCable

Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo South, claim sey former President Muhammadu Buhari no build airports and railways during im administration.

Ibrahim claim sey di airports and railways wey Buhari commission na di ones wey Goodluck Jonathan, di presido before Buhari, build.

As e dey tok for Channel Television’s Politics Today, di businessman tok sey di kontri economic variables turn “negative” under Buhari.

“Two years afta Buhari enta, e turn negative to $17 billion. All di variables turn negatve for Buhari administration. Tins bin go wrong,” na so Ibrahim bin tok.

“All these rails and airports, na Jonathan build am. You no fit even point one single project wey cost $1 billion wey Buhari comot moni for.”

CLAIM: BUHARI NO BUILD AIRPORTS AND RAILS; NA JONATHAN 

WETIN WE CHECK 

In September 2021, Femi Adesina, former special adviser to Buhari on media and publicity, mention some “giant-sized jinxes” wey di Buhari administration break. 

Adesina mention di Itakpe-Warri rail line, Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Abuja metro line, and Lagos-Ibadan rail line as di railway projects wey Buhari complete as im be president.

Di completion of di rail lines bin trigger different reactions about di administration wey begin di projects, especially di Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

FACTS ABOUT DI ABUJA-KADUNA RAIL LINE

Di Abuja-Kaduna rail line project na initiative of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who serve di kontri between 1999 and 2007. Dem bin give China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC) di contract for di project, for di sum of $8.3 billion, wey go be loan from China.

Di Abuja-Kaduna rail line bin initially dey proposed as part of di Lagos-Kano standard gauge modernisation project, but moni come finish along di way. During di administration of late former President Musa Yar’Adua, dem stop di project becos of funding challenges.

Di Abuja-Kaduna rail line construction begin for February 2011 and finish for December 2014. Jonathan serve as acting president from February to May 2010, and as president from May 2010 to May 2015.

Di Abuja-Kaduna segment na di first phase of di Lagos-Kano standard gauge project within Nigeria’s first standard gauge railway modernization projects (SGRMP).

BUYING OF ENGINE FOR ABUJA-KADUNA RAIL PROJECT

In October 2014, di federal executive council (FEC) approve $6.6 million to buy two engines for di Abuja-Kaduna rail. Jonathan hand over power to Buhari on May 29, 2015 and na Buhari complete di project.

BUHARI LAUNCH ABUJA-KADUNA RAILWAY

On July 26, 2016, Buhari launch di Abuja-Kaduna standard-gauge railway line for di Idu station for Abuja. During di launch, Buhari tok sey im dey ready to complete di oda projects wey di Jonathan administration pass down.

ODA RAIL PROJECTS

Di 157km Lagos-Ibadan rail line project na one of di railways for di kontri wey di Buhari-led administration commission. But which administration start am?

Di first train ride from Lagos to Ibadan na since di early 1900s, during di regime of di British colonial government. Di Lagos to Ibadan train route na one of di rail lines wey di colionalists construct and di Nigerian govment come later take over.

Some years afta Nigeria independence, passengers bin still dey enjoy di trains wey di colonial govment provide. However, by 2003, di rail lines bin don scata. Jonathan administration bin try revive di Lagos-Ibadan rail lines.

In June 2012, during Jonathan administration, di federal executive council approve $1.49 billion contract for di modernisation of di Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

Di Chinese construction firm — CCECC — naim get di contract.

Two months later, di federal govment sign memorandum of understanding with CCECC for di construction of di project.

Idris Umar, di then minister of transport, tok sey di contract signify di continued commitment of di federal govment policy to modernise di railway system for di kontri. Umar tok sey di contract go last for 36 months and e go dey partly financed by di Chinese govment through di China Exim Bank concessionary loan facility.

Di project bin no start under Jonathan, but until 2016, after di Buhari-led administration renegotiate di contract wit di Chinese company.

UNDER BUHARI, DEM RELEASE COUNTERPART FUNDING FOR LAGOS-IBADAN RAILWAY

In January 2017, di federal govment tok sey dem release N72 billion as di full counterpart funding for di construction of Lagos-Ibadan modernization railway project. 

In March 2017, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo flag off di Lagos-Ibadan rail project. Four years later, Buhari commission di Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway for commercial operations at di Mobolaji Johnson railway station, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

ITAKPE-WARRI RAIL LINE

In September 2020, Buhari inaugurate di 326-kilometer Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line.

Di project, wey begin for 1987 under di military administration of Ibrahim Babangida, na sake of movement of iron ore from mines around Itakpe to di steelworks for Ajaokuta.

Dem later abandon di project afta about 254 kilometres sake of moni. Jonathan bin later continue am but na Buhari finish am. 

In November 2009, di federal govment approve di payment of N33 billion for di design and completion of di project. Team Nigeria and Julius Berger naim bin get di project, wit anticipated delivery date in 2013.

However, dem no complete di project before govment change in 2015. In 2017, di federal govment led by Buhari announce sey dem wan revive di project, and dem award di contract to Julius Berger – who com later comot hand. 

In 2019, di Buhari administration sign $3.9bn contract with di China Railway Construction Corporation Limited for di construction of a new rail line wey go connect Abuja, Itakpe, and Lokoja. 

Dem finally complete di rail line, begin operation during di Buhari administration afta years of neglect.

AIRPORTS

During di administration of Jonathan, di federal govment execute some projects wey include di rebuilding and remodelling of some airports for di kontri. Jonathan administration execute some projects to improve service delivery for di aviation sector, especially di construction of new terminals.

In September 2012, di federal govment under Jonathan approve di sum of N106 billion for di construction of 11 new international airport terminal buildings for Nigeria.

In May 2013, Jonathan commission di remodelled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and im lay di foundation stone for di new international terminal building for di airport.

In July 2013, di federal govment sign $500 million loan deal wit China to build international airport terminals for Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano. Di Nigerian govment bin suppose contribute $100 million as counterpart funding.

Although di construction activities bin start for Jonathan administration, dem no complete any of di airport projects during im tenure.

Jonathan administration naim lay di foundation for di construction of new airport terminals across di kontri. Wen Buhari enta office in 2015, im continue some of di projects wey di previous govment begin for di aviation sector.

In October 2018, Buhari commission new terminal for di Port Harcourt Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

In December 2018, Buhari commission new terminal building for di Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In March 2022, Buhari commission new terminal for di Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

FINAL TOK

E get as e be to tok sey Buhari no build airports and rails. Since govment na continuous somtin, Buhari fit take credit for completing some of di projects wey di previous govmnents abandon or no complete.