By Ushang Ewa
The National Vice Chairman South South of the APC, Hilliard Etta says the Calabar – Lagos rail line which led to an impasse between the Presidency and National Assembly is included in the budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari Friday.
Etta disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after his arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International airport for the first quarterly retreat of the Cross River State chapter of the APC which held at the Transcorp hotel Friday, in Calabar.
He said he had it on good authority that it was included in the budget with the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla concurring to his statement.
Etta still announced this to APC faithfuls while delivering his goodwill message at the retreat.
Also, in an interview with our correspondent, Etta said that “I am yet to get a clean copy of the budget but if what the Minister for Finance said yesterday (Thursday) is anything to go by, then it should be there.”
It will be recalled that the Calabar – Lagos rail line was reportedly removed from the budget as it transited from the National Assembly to the Presidency in April shortly before the President’s departure for a week long state visit to China which formed part of the reason for his refusal to sign the budget back then.
Several legislators denied its inclusion in ‘The Original Budget’ with Cross River Senator, Owan Enoh however, saying it was included during the defence of projects by ministers with video evidence proving that Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi had mentioned the rail line in the budget.
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