Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, has been accused of diverting the $3.02 billion Eastern Railway rehabilitation project from the South-East to his home state of Gombe. Allegations suggest the move is politically motivated, with claims that Alkali is positioning himself for the 2027 Gombe State governorship race.
The project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in 2021, was initially planned to reconstruct the Eastern railway corridor from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, passing through 12 states, including major South-East cities like Aba, Umuahia, and Enugu.
According to Sahara Reporters, CCECC completed the Port Harcourt to Aba section in November 2024 and handed it over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The next phase was expected to extend the railway from Aba to Enugu, covering vital commercial and political hubs in the South-East.
However, insiders claim that immediately after the commissioning of the Port Harcourt-Aba section, Minister Alkali directed CCECC to halt work in the South-East and shift focus to Gombe, where construction allegedly resumed on the Gombe-Bauchi railway line.
A source within the NRC disclosed: “The Minister had announced that after Aba, the next phase would be Enugu, but suddenly, contractors were redirected to Gombe instead, skipping Umuahia, Enugu, and Makurdi.”
Stakeholders argue that this decision shortchanges the South-East, reinforcing long-standing concerns of regional marginalization. Critics believe the alleged diversion of funds is part of Alkali’s political calculations as he eyes the 2027 governorship election in Gombe.
An NRC insider revealed: “Culverts and bridges between Aba and Enugu had been completed, and track laying was the next step. Instead of continuing, the Minister pulled the contractors out and sent them to his state, Gombe.”
This development has sparked outrage among South-East leaders, who are demanding explanations from the Federal Government. Many have called for an urgent review of the project to ensure equitable infrastructure distribution across all regions.
Efforts to get official responses have yielded little. When contacted, CCECC spokesperson Chief Emeka Nwachukwu declined to comment, stating: “Ask the Ministry of Transportation or the Nigerian Railway Corporation. They are in a better position to answer your questions.”
Similarly, Janet McDickson, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, dismissed inquiries, saying: “Bring an official letter for your inquiry. Make it official. I don’t know who I am speaking with.”
With growing concerns over the alleged diversion of the railway project, South-East stakeholders insist on transparency and demand that the government restore the project’s original plan without political interference.