FG, National Assembly urged to resolve logjam over Calabar-Lagos rail route

Railway workers have called on the executive and legislative arms of the government to harmonise their positions and ensure the re-inclusion of the Lagos-Calabar railway project in the 2016 budget.

The two arms of government had been trading blame over the non-inclusion of the Calabar-Lagos rail project in the budget, which the legislature sent back to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent. The executive claims the project was included in the project, accusing the lawmakers of expunging it. On the other hand, the legislature maintained it was never included in what was sent to them by the executive.

But the workers under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW) said at this point in time, national interest and the positive impact of the proposed rail project should be considered above parochial interest.

Segun Esan, secretary general of the union, said it was time to stop the blame game between the two arms of the government over the Lagos – Calabar railway project issue for the sake of Nigerians.

“The Presidency and the National Assembly should stop any further bickering and blame trade that is going on in the media as a result of the alleged removal or non-inclusion of the Lagos – Calabar railway project in the 2016 budget. Such blame trade will not help us as a nation but rather will portray us as unserious people.

“The only patriotic and honest thing to do now is for the executive and the legislative arms to come together and clear the project for inclusion in the budget. If we are sincere with practically taking steps to reverse the infrastructure deficiency that is the bane of our nation and also to justify various investments Mr. President has secured from China for the development of various parts of our national economy, Lagos-Calabar railway project must be returned.”

According to Esan, the lawmakers and the Presidency should be more concerned about what the nation stands to benefit from such railway project.

“Apart from such project reversing our national status as infrastructure-deficient nation, completion of such project will provide job opportunities for over 100,000 Nigerian youths and the nation will be further strongly integrated. Such project will stimulate rural and urban renewals, wealth and population distribution, tourism, poverty eradication, and cheap transportation services,” he said.

He listed other benefits of the project to include effective movement of products, ports decongestion and proliferation of dry ports, which altogether would impact most positively on the economic growth.

“As a union, we wonder what anybody or group of persons would gain by standing in the way of the nation’s progress. Our approach to national issues must be essentially detribalised, devoid of parochial political colouration and selfish interest.

“Are we, as a nation, winning the fight against corruption or corruption is fighting us back and winning if, after securing foreign investments to build infrastructure and other vital segments of the economy, such basis for the investments is now being reportedly expunged or not included in the budget,” Esan said.