China awarded $7bln rail project by Nigeria

Nigeria has awarded a $6.68 billion contract to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for work on a major segment of a railway linking the country’s commercial hub Lagos, in the southwest, and Kano in the north, Xinhua reported.

“The signing of the ... segment contract agreement today (Tuesday) concludes all outstanding segments of the Lagos-Kano rail line,” the Chinese state news agency quoted Nigeria’s transport ministry as saying. The work is expected to take two or three years.

CCECC, a subsidiary of Chinese state rail builder China Railway Construction Corporation, has been involved in other parts of the Lagos-Kano rail project, which started in 2006 and was broken into segments for implementation.

In 2016, Nigeria awarded it work on a segment between the northern states of Kano and Kaduna with a contract sum of $1.685 billion.

The railway line is also receiving funding from China. In April, China Exim bank approved a $1.231 billion loan for the network’s modernisation programme.

Reuters

Nigerian launches 'Save me from dying in this shithole' GoFundMe campaign

A Nigerian, Oladapo Olawuni, has launched a gofundme campaign to raise $1,000 to enable him leave the country.
Olawuni said he is tired of Nigeria, as the country holds nothing for him.

“I'm tired or this country and I need to leave.” he wrote. “This country has nothing for me. Save me from dying in this shithole. Plis dear.”

The account, opened 23 hours before the filing of this report, has received no donation yet — although it has been generating buzz on social media, particularly on Facebook.

A Facebook user, Oluwakayode Kakaki Agboola, shared the link to the gofundme account with the caption: “Help a Nigerian stranded in Nigeria. Support, Donate and join the campaign.”

Another user, Prince Adewole Adetokunbo Oyeledun, who commented on the same thread, said: “DSS should flag this guy. Let us hold this one against his will. We are in it together. Where does he think he's going? Nonsense!!!”

A survey conducted by CLEEN foundation and Afribarometer in 2017 revealed that one out of every three Nigerians is seeking to leave the country in search of greener pasture.

The survey also revealed that about 8 in every 10 Nigerians who wish to leave the country are aged 35 or below.

Similarly, a survey conducted by NOIPolls last year showed that Nigerian doctors move in droves to the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

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