By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Some Port Harcourt residents have complained of how the abandoned Monorail construction by the Rotimi Amaechi led administration has become a haven for homeless persons and criminals.
NatureNews correspondent who visited the Monorail station located around station/railway bus stop, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, observed that grasses and dirts have taken over the Monorail station.
It has also become a hideout for criminals and haven for homeless people. Some petty business owners have also used some corners as shades to run their businesses.
The Monorail project was initiated by the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the project was announced in 2010 and construction commenced the same year.
It was reported that N11 billion was first released as part of the State government’s equity for the construction of the monorail which is constructed under a Public Private Partnership arrangement between the Rivers State Government and TSI Holdings Limited.
It was projected to cost $318 million with an equity division of 20 per cent to the State Government and 80 per cent to TSI Holdings.
But as of September 2017, construction has only been partially completed despite $400 million having been spent on the project.
The proposed routes for the Monorail were, Aggrey road through Station road- Azikiwe road- Aba road to Water lines junction.
The route would have double tracks from Station road to Waterlines junction on Aba road and a single track loop at UTC junction through Ikwere road to UST roundabout- Abuja by-pass- Olu Obasanjo road to Waterlines junction on Aba road. This route is referred to as the Eastern Route.
It was also proposed that the kind of train to be used on the Rivers Monorail is the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities as seen in some parts of Europe.
The former Media Adviser to Amaechi, David Iyofor, told newsmen that the monorail which would be the first of its kind in West Africa, was developed for mass transportation within the Port Harcourt metropolis, adding that it would not only decongest roads in the city, but would also provide a competitive mass transport solution to the city and create job opportunities.
However, 2022 will make it 12 years, the goals for the monorail construction has remained unaccomplished and abandoned.
This year is also, almost concluding the tenure of the present administration of the Gov Nyesom Wike, yet the project remains incomplete.
Getting the reaction of the present administration on the current situation of the Monorail construction, NatureNews contacted the Commissioner of Information, Paulinus Nsirim over the weekend.
However, the Commissioner, who initially accepted to give information about detailed contributions of the Wike’s administration to the monorail, later did not avail the correspondent the opportunity to discuss with him.
Naturenews recalls that in 2016 Gov. Wike, stated categorically that he will not complete the monorail project started by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking to an environmental activist on Friday in Port Harcourt, Mr Phillip Jakpor, said that for such projects to be abandoned for many years amounts to insensitivity in the part of the government because tax payers money are involved.
“ It is even more scary to know that it is a public-private partnership. This partner does not have funds to fund the project. The funds may be coming from the local banks and the state government will guarantee the loans.
“ If they default in completing the project, it means Rivers residents will pay the money.
He urged Rivers people to be awake and start asking critical questions, else the project will be a forgotten one.