Amaechi reveals when Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, Lagos-Calabar rail lines, others will commence
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has revealed when most rail lines will commence construction and operations.
Amaechi said upon completion of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project by December, the Federal Government would immediately commence construction of the Eastern rail line which connects Port Harcourt – Bonny to Maiduguri.
The Minister stated this in Ibadan, on Wednesday, September 16, after inspecting the level of work on all the Stations across the Lagos-Ibadan railway project.
Daily Times reports that the Minister said that the commencement of the projects is subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council.
He said, “We have sent to the cabinet the request for approval of two railway contracts, Port Harcourt – Bonny to Maiduguri. If that is awarded, that will be the next assignment for the Ministry of Transport. Also, the Kano – Maradi line, which passes through Kano, Dutse, Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibiya, Maradi.
READ ALSO: I employed over 20,000 Nigerians for Lagos-Ibadan rail project – Amaechi
“We are also pursuing the loan for the contract which has been awarded for the Lagos to Calabar rail line. We also expect that Ibadan to Kano will commence before the end of this year,” Amaechi said.
”I have insisted that a special task force be set up to make sure Apapa station is completed same time as all the others.
“If you see the station at Olodo, there are improvements, they finished flooring, roofing, lighting, ceilings; just doors and windows left. Again, what is left at Kajola is just painting. There is an improvement in Olodo and Ebute-Metta.
“The only station in which I am not satisfied is this last station in Ibadan. However, they have given us the following targets: End of September, three stations will be ready; end of October, all the seven minor stations will be ready; end of December, everything will be ready,” he said.
Speaking on the speed of the contractors, he said, “The timeline hasn’t changed, but they didn’t meet my target for this inspection, my target was that by today (September 15), they would have finished the minor stations, but they gave an excuse that because of COVID-19 they hadn’t enough engineers on site. What you have is the same engineers supervising Agbado and Agege, so they move in between and that is slowing down the work.
“As for me, I want this job done because I want to move out of Lagos. Their submission is that by next week, all engineers will be on-site and work will commence and once work commences, they will be faster and by the end of September, they should finish the three major stations.”
Reacting to the accident that occurred in Oshodi on Monday, Amaechi said the Ministry would collaborate with the Lagos State government to ensure fencing of the tracks, which he said has already begun in some parts to avert such incidents.
