Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, says the deep seaport to be sited in Bonny Island will be funded by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The Minister said at the flag-off of the construction of Bonny Deep Seaport and the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri narrow gauge rail line on Tuesday in Port Harcourt that the project will cost $700 million.
He said upon completion, trains on the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway will run at 60 – 80 kilometres per hour and 80 – 100 kilometres per hour for freight and passenger respectively.
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According to him: The Bonny deep seaport has a container terminal of 500,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent unit) per annum capacity and 100,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) Berth.
“The Railway Industrial park, Port Harcourt would be supported by necessary infrastructure including power, water, waste disposal, ICT and gas distribution as well as transportation, logistics centres and ancillaries,’’ he said.
He explained further that the Ministry was working in line with the President’s directives to implement the Nigeria Railway Modernization project and progressively expand the railway network.
“In this regard, the rail line connection from Enugu to Awka – Onitsha and Abakaliki is undergoing necessary Feasibility Studies and preparation of conceptual design,’’ he said
