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| China to build Nigerian railway | China to build Nigerian railway |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| China is to build a railway line between Nigeria's two main commercial cities, Lagos and Kano. | China is to build a railway line between Nigeria's two main commercial cities, Lagos and Kano. |
| An $8bn contract was signed by the deputy transport minister and the president of the Chinese firm (CCECC). | An $8bn contract was signed by the deputy transport minister and the president of the Chinese firm (CCECC). |
| CCECC President Lin Rongxin said 50,000 Nigerians would work on the 1,315km line which he said was "a design, construct and maintain project". | CCECC President Lin Rongxin said 50,000 Nigerians would work on the 1,315km line which he said was "a design, construct and maintain project". |
| Nigeria's leader said the five-year north-south line was the first phase in a 20-year modernisation programme. | Nigeria's leader said the five-year north-south line was the first phase in a 20-year modernisation programme. |
| President Olusegun Obasanjo, who watched the signing, said the second phase of the railway project would include a link between the southern oil city of Port Harcourt and the central city of Jos. | President Olusegun Obasanjo, who watched the signing, said the second phase of the railway project would include a link between the southern oil city of Port Harcourt and the central city of Jos. |
| The existing railway along these routes has fallen into disrepair and new tracks are to be built under the deal with China. | |
| China recently granted Nigeria a loan of $2.5bn and much of this is expected to be used in the railway project. | China recently granted Nigeria a loan of $2.5bn and much of this is expected to be used in the railway project. |
| Earlier this year Nigeria repaid a multi-billion dollar debt it owed to the Paris Club, becoming the first African nation to settle with its official lenders. | Earlier this year Nigeria repaid a multi-billion dollar debt it owed to the Paris Club, becoming the first African nation to settle with its official lenders. |
| Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil exporters, but it is also one of the world's poorest countries, with the majority of the population living on less than $1 per day. | Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil exporters, but it is also one of the world's poorest countries, with the majority of the population living on less than $1 per day. |