Nigeria gets 5 million-dollar loan from China for Abuja Light Rail

Nigeria gets 5 million-dollar loan from China for Abuja Light Rail

The Nigerian government plans to obtain a soft loan of about five million dollars (N80 billion) from the Chinese Government to complete the Abuja Light Rail Project.

Mr Ahmed Wadada, the Senior Special Assistant on Project Monitoring and National Assembly Matters to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, made this known in Abuja while speaking with reporters. 

Wadada said the rail project was important to the FCT administration. He noted that the loan was part of the contractual agreement that would better the lives of Nigerians through the execution of projects.

‘Problem of funding’

He said that the problem of funding had been taken care of, as fund would come from Nigeria. The remaining is a soft loan from the Chinese government and the process would soon be concluded.

The senior special assistant said the fund would soon be made available, explaining that both governments had concluded the process concerning the soft loan.

The Project Manager of the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, Mr Charles Chang, gave the assurance that the company was committed to executing the job as expected by the Nigerian government.

He said that out of a total of 96 culverts needed to be constructed on the rail right of way, only 26 were ready while 35 kilometres track was completed out of the 64 kilometre track.

Chang explained that the construction of the sleepers had reached an advanced stage, adding that coaches, as well as five bridges for the project were ready.

NAN/Williams