Lagos-Calabar Rail Project Too Monumental to Be Politicised, Says Ita-Giwa

Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters and Chairman, Cross River State Sea Port, Mrs. Florence Ita-Giwa, has urged both the executive and legislative arms of government not to politicise the Lagos to Calabar rail project allegedly expunged from the 2016 budget.

In a statement made available to journalists in Lagos wednesday, Ita Giwa, who served two former presidents as liaison officer is no doubt adequately equipped to comment on the controversy but has chosen to be statemanly acknowledging the fact that she belongs to the two side of the divide as a former senator and as Presidential Adviser on National Assembly matters.

Against this backdrop, she reminded the two arms that the project will turn around the economy of the South South region. According to the revered Senator, Calabar is as important as any other place in Nigeria. So Instead of trading blames, they should ensure that it returns to the budget if truly it is missing because it will complement the effort of Cross River State deepsea port.

She noted that the region has suffered enough and that President Muhammadu Buhari should be encouraged to deliver dividends of democracy to the area even beyond the rail project.
Ita-Giwa also urged her colleagues in the National Assembly to be more alert and proactive especially in monitoring their constituency projects from the scratch to the end and serve the larger interests of their constituents.
She added that a good representative must play the watchdog function on all projects meant for his or her constituency and to achieve that active interest and passion is required coupled with necessary lobbying.

She said: “The Lagos-Calabar rail project is a significant one that must not be trivialised or politicised because it has the potential of opening the economy of the South region. I am therefore urging my colleagues in the Senate and the executive arms to ensure that the project is included and adequately catered for in the budget because it will serve a general good and will complement the Cross River State deep sea port.

“I also want to advise my colleagues to guide and keep an eagle eye on all projects earmarked for their constituents. Only through that can it be said of them as good representatives.”