By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has expressed disgust over the Federal Government’s plan to construct rail line from Kano to Niger Republic, even as he queried the economic impact the project would have on the development of the nation.
This is as the Governor has implored the National Assembly to call on President Muhamadu Buhari to jettison his plan to embark on the afore-mentioned project, which is to cost a colossal sum of $1.9bn, stressing it has no economic benefit to Nigerians.
Ortom who made his position known in Makurdi the State capital asked rhetorically “what is the economic benefit of a rail line from Nigeria to Niger? Why do we have to take $1.9bn to construct a rail line to Niger?”
The Governor enjoined the House of Representatives committee on Water Resources to counsel the Federal Government to rescind its decision to construct railway project to Niger Republic.
Continuing he expressed worry over some of the Federal Government’s Policies. His words: “Some of the policies of the Federal Government have made some of us to be suspicious. These include Ruga, Cattle Colony, Open Grazing as Camouflage coming into play.”
He called the Federal Government to revamp rural rail lines that have been moribund for long to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
