By Kayode Araba
Thus the National Assembly Joint Committee on Land Transport has questioned the award of a $3 billion rail transport contract allegedly executed by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) without the knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Land Transport, describing the development as disturbing and inconsistent with due process.
However, the committee consequently summoned officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance and MOFI to appear before it to explain the circumstances surrounding the contract award, its funding source and implementation plan
Speaking during the joint oversight session, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), said lawmakers were reviewing Nigeria’s railway modernization programme when they discovered that MOFI allegedly awarded contracts for rail projects in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano without the involvement of the supervising ministry.
Furthermore, Senator Aliero, said the Federal Ministry of Land Transport, which supervises the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and has the technical responsibility for railway development, was reportedly unaware of the transaction
Therefore, the committee further requested details of compensation and resettlement plans for communities and residents likely to be displaced by the railway projects.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh, expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance and officials of MOFI at the investigative hearing.
