But this is coming as the project which holds high hope for the Abuja public transportation system and the residents is still at below 23 percent completion stage, spurring fear among some residents of the city of possible abandonment or non-completion before the end of this administration in 2015.
But Mohammed, during an inspection tour of the project, said the administration was set to remove all encumbrances that may further delay the delivering of the rail project, which, according to him, would bring the Federal Capital Territory at par with other world cities.
Mohammed expressed the commitment of the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan in completing the Abuja rail project on or before 2015 as the project has attained 22 percent completion and will now be fast tracked with the breakthrough of the $500 million credit facility from the Chinese Exim Bank with interest rate of 2.5 percent.
According to the minister, about one million jobs will be created when the project is completed; stressing that the project has been phased to ensure early completion and maximum benefit to Nigerians.
He said: “The contract sum of the project is about $800 million out of which $500 has been borrowed from the Chinese government through Chinese Exim Bank with a 2.5 percent interest rate.”
He remarked that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan believes in continuity which is one of the thrust of the transformation agenda and is why efforts are being geared towards completing all on-going projects unlike in the past where the country is dotted with several abandoned projects.
