Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has pleaded with the National Assembly to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari- led Federal Government to drop the plan to build a rail line from Nigeria to Niger Republic at the cost of $1.9billion.

The governor contended that the rail project is of no economic value to Nigeria, advising that the fund should be channeled to rail projects in parts of the country.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at the ground breaking ceremony of Benue State Geographic Information Service, BENGIS, at the State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals in Makurdi said t was a duty the law makers owed Nigerians who were disenchanted with the development.

He particularly urged the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, to work with other colleagues to advice the Federal Government on the matter appropriately rather than deriding him over his stance on the National Water Resource Bill.

The governor said, “The National Assembly should advise the Federal Government not to take that money to execute a project that will lead a rail line to Niger Republic. The rail line in Benue is not working, same for most parts of the country. What is the economic benefit of a rail line from Nigeria to Niger.