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Tag: Abuja Light Rail

  • Abuja Light Rail for inauguration May 27, says Wike

    Abuja Light Rail for inauguration May 27, says Wike

    •  VP Lodge, OSEX, B6, B12 Circular roads, others ready

    • Tinubu govt to kick-start first year events with world media briefing

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said President Bola Tinubu will inaugurate the Abuja Light Rail on May 27.

    The minister said the inauguration would kick-start the commercial operation of the rail project.

    Wike announced this yesterday in Abuja after inspecting the project.

    The FCT minister said $15 million (over N10 billion) was expended on the rehabilitation of the project.

    He said: “Thank God Almighty that we are good to go. We are ready and you can see the facilities have been installed.

    “We are happy, very happy, and we thank God the promise President Tinubu made has been kept.”

    Wike said President Tinubu had promised to deliver the metro line to Nigerians within one year in office, adding that as his representative in the nation’s capital, he had to keep the promise.

    He said the operationalisation of the metro line was a testament to the reality of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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    The minister said the project was delivered because of the overwhelming support from President Tinubu.

    He said: “We are doing well because Mr. President has given us every necessary support. Assuming we were not getting the support from him, this would not have been a reality today.”

    Besides the rail project, others to be inaugurated by the President during the FCT Week, which Wike has inspected, include the official residence of the Vice President, the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from the Villa Roundabout to the Ring Road 1 with four number of interchanges as well as the B6 and B12  Circle Road.

    Also, the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on President Bola Tinubu’s first year anniversary has announced a World Press Conference to mark the first year of the administration.

    The world press conference, scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m at the National Press Centre of Radio House in Abuja, aims to showcase the administration’s achievements and future plans.

    There will also be sectoral updates from May 23 to 24, focusing on each ministry’s specific accomplishments and goals.

    All the briefings will hold at the Radio House in Abuja.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, said the events are parts of the first phase of activities lined up to mark the first anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration.

  • Buhari inaugurates Abuja light rail as minister seeks more funding

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday inaugurated Abuja light rail system, hoping that its services will bring a boost to the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) economy and enhance social life.

    He said the completion of the  project was a dream come true.

    The President said: “I commend the Minister of FCT for the hard work and sense of purpose towards the realisation of this long awaited modern transportation system for both FCT residents and visitors.

    “This accomplishment clearly demonstrates our commitment to addressing critical infrastructural projects and keeping with the ideals of the Change Agenda to ensure prudence in the management of public resources and value for money, considering the huge investments in this project.

    “Transportation is the live wire of any city. I am very optimistic that a modern rail service would bring about a boost to the FCT economy and greatly enhance social life. I am aware that what we have on ground today are coaches meant to provide skeletal services as we await the main set of the rolling stock for full operations.

    “I have been briefed on the outcome of the Ministers of FCT and Finance recent visit to China, during which the MOUs and agreements for the procurements of the main rolling stock were signed.”

    Buhari gave assurance of the Federal Government’s continued support for the negotiations towards realisation of the Abuja Light Rail system.

    The commissioning of the light rail in the Federal Capital Territory, he said, was another evidence that his government is delivering on its promises.

    He added: “I have observed keenly other milestones that this administration has achieved, especially in the areas of education, public utilities and infrastructure development.

    “I commend the efforts of the Hon. Minister of FCT as well as the support and patience of the residents, while we are working to improve the city’s transportation service.

    “I am thankful to the Government and people of China for their investment in the Nigerian economy. I commend the CCECC Limited – the Contracting Firm, for the quality of work and timely delivery of this project.

    “Let me place on record the Nigerian government’s appreciation to the Government of China and the EXIM Bank of China for their support on this and many other projects currently being executed in the country.

    “This gesture further cements the already existing cordial relations and developmental partnership between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China. I would also like to thank our Nigerian consultants, Messrs Transurb Technirail Consult Limited for their services.”

    The President urged the FCT Administration, especially, the management of the rail services, to ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture in the operations punctuality of the rail.

    FCT Minister Muhammad Bello said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2017 approved $1.3 billion for the construction of the Abuja light rail project.

    He said the implementation of the project has been divided into phases, with phase 1 being what has been commissioned at a cost of $823 million.

    The minister said: “The Federal Executive Council approved the project in 2017 for construction by CCECC at a cost of US$1.3 billion. We hope that the Minister of Finance would consider putting this key project in the next borrowing plans, the Minister of Budget and National Planning would agree to it, the National Assembly would approved it and that China Exim Bank would fund it as a mark of goodwill for the cordial relationship between our two countries.

    “The Abuja Rail Mass Transit System is an integral part of the FCT Transportation Master Plan designed primarily to transport large number of commuters and goods between Satellite Towns into the Metropolitan Public Transport system and the different Phases of the Federal Capital City (FCC).”

    Bello said the FCTA is working on Phase ll of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project to cover a distance of 32.54 km from Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway at Garki Area l via the transportation Centre to Gwagwa and from Bazango Station to Kubwa.

    Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Zhou Pingjian said Chinese government remains committed to its relationship with Nigeria.

     

     

  • Abuja light rail is our project- PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has chided the Federal Government for failing to give it credit at the Thursday’s commissioning of the Abuja Light Rail Project by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiay on Thursday, in Abuja expressed dismay that Buhari commissioned the project without given credit to the party.

    It stated that it was unfortunate that the All Progressives Congress (APC), attempted to claim credit for the project, while Nigerians were already aware that it was conceptualised, initiated and policy-propelled by the PDP.

    The party added that it was unfortunate that after three years in office, the APC government could not boast of any development project conceptualised and executed in any part of the country.

    “The PDP usually watch with amusement whenever the President and the APC seek to claim credit for our achievements in various sectors.

    “However, while we understand their predicament of having nothing in their scorecard ahead of the 2019 general elections, we state that poaching the achievements of others cannot help them in anyway.’’

    The party urged Nigerians not to despair especially as the 2019 general elections offer them the firm opportunity to vote out APC and return the repositioned and rebranded PDP.

    Buhari had on Wednesday while commissioning the Light Rail System said that the completion of the project was“ a dream come true”. (NAN)

  • Buhari commissions Abuja light rail

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commissioned Abuja light rail system.

    He was optimistic that a modern rail service would bring about a boost to the FCT economy and enhance social life in the city.

    Buhari said “I am very pleased to be here today to formally Commission the Abuja Light Rail System. The completion of this very important project is a dream come-true . I commend the Hon. Minister of F.C.T for the hard work and sense of purpose towards the realization of this long awaited modern transportation system for both FCT residents and visitors.

    “This accomplishment clearly demonstrates our commitment to addressing critical infrastructural projects and keeping with the ideals of the Change Agenda to ensure prudence in the management of public resources, value for money considering the huge investments in this project.

    “Transportation is the live wire of any city. I am very optimistic that a modern rail service would bring about a boost to the FCT economy and greatly enhance social life. I am aware that what we have on ground today are coaches meant to provide skeletal services as we await the main set of the rolling stock for full operations.

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    “I have been briefed on the outcome of the Hon. Ministers of F.C.T and Finance recent visit to China, during which the MOUs and agreements for the procurements of the main rolling stock were signed.” he added

    The President gave assurance of the Federal Government’s continued support for the negotiations towards realization of the Abuja Light Rail system.

    The commissioning of the light rail in the Federal Capital Territory, he said, is another evidence that his government is delivering on its promises.

    He added “I have observed keenly other milestones that this Administration has achieved, especially in the areas of education, public utilities and infrastructure development.

    “I commend the efforts of the Hon. Minister of F.C.T. as well as the support and patience of the residents, while we are working to improve the city’s transportation service.

    “I am thankful to the Government and people of China for their investment in the Nigerian economy. I commend the CCECC Limited – the Contracting Firm, for the quality of work and timely delivery of this project.

    “Let me place on record the Nigerian government’s appreciation to the Government of China and the EXIM Bank of China for their support on this and many other projects currently being executed in the country.

    “This gesture further cements the already existing cordial relations and developmental partnership between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China. I would also like to thank our Nigerian Consultants, Messrs Transurb Technirail Consult Limited for their services.”

    The President urged the FCT Administration, especially, the management of the rail services, to ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture in the operations punctuality of the rail.

  • ‘Abuja Light Rail will create over 20,000 jobs’

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary  Chinyeaka Ohaa has said  the Abuja Light Rail can generate  over 20,000 jobs and  boost the economic fortunes of the territory.

    Ohaa spoke when he led the FCT’s directors and members of the management staff to inspect the 78km Abuja Light Rail.

    He assured that the mass transit service would be inaugurated soon.

    Ohaa added that all the necessary infrastructure and personnel have been put in place for successful service.