The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says the ambition of the federal
government is to begin free ride on Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge rail line by
November.
Amaechi made this known on Monday,
while briefing journalists in Lagos, after inspection of the project.
The inspection was the second since Amaechi’s re-appointment as minister
in-charge of the ministry by President Muhammadu Buhari who said the pace of
work was reduced within the period the government dissolved the last cabinet.
He however stressed the need for increased pressure to ensure early completion
so that the trail of train services can begin by November between Lagos and
Ibadan.
The minister said he had mounted pressure on the contractor to ensure that
the minor stations were completed in due course.
He, however, said that the gas pipelines at Apapa Ports had impeded
progress of work, adding, “We will still work hard to see how we can
achieve our goal”.
Amaechi commenced the inspection as early as 8:00a.m by visiting Lagos
Station of the Standard Gauge and later moved to inspect the Apapa Ports
Terminal.
The minister also inspected the construction works at the 10 stations along
the 156-kilometre rail line corridor which included Apapa, Kajola, Papalanto,
Abeokuta and Omi-Adio, among others and then called on the contractor to speed
up work on the project before his next visit in October.
In her remarks, Saraki commended the federal government’s commitment to the
project, saying that she was impressed riding on train from Lagos to Ibadan.
The minister had inspected the project in company of the Minister of State
for Transportation, Gbemi Saraki.
Others on the minister’s team include Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director,
Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and the Chairman, NRC Board of Directors,
Ibrahim Al-Hassan-Musa.
Also, in company of Amaechi were the
Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu, and Xia Lijun,
the Project Coordinator, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
