The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos- Ibadan rail

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail’ll be ready in June – Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has assured that by early June this year, the rail transport system would ready for use between Lagos and Ibadan. The Lagos-Abeokuta rail had been completed earlier in the year as passengers were offered a three-month free ride. The period of free ride was however later shortened.

    Amaechi who spoke to some journalists over the weekend noted that his commitment to the full take off of rail transportation in Nigeria is aimed at making life easier and better for Nigerians. He undertakes rail inspection trips at least twice in a month. The Ghanaian government recently sent a team led by its Minister of Rail Development, Hon. Joe Ghartey, to come and understudy the progress being made in Nigeria’s rail projects.

    The Lagos-Ibadan rail project is being executed at the cost of $1.6 billion, which is being funded from the loan from the Chinese government. He explained that the hitherto abandoned Itakpe-Wari rail line has been completed and has commenced operation. It shall, for a start, be carrying 100 passengers per trip, until more coaches are purchased. The Itakpe-Warri rail line was abandoned for 34 years.

    “It is one rail project that we did not borrow a dime to complete. President Muhammadu Buhari was and still enthusiastic in driving the rail project in Nigeria as a way of improving the nation’s economy. The Itakpe –Warri rail line was revived and completed with $200m. Presently, the Railway Village which was burnt is being rehabilitated, just as the Railway yard (which will comprise school, hospital and maintenance units) is being built in Agbor, Delta State,” he said.

    Amaechi further noted that the cost of land and other properties on the rail corridor have all gone up as many people are already scrambling to buy lands and properties along such places in anticipation of the economies that will be built within those areas.

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail: December deadline not feasible, says Ashafa

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa, yesterday expressd doubts about the delivery of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line by December.

    Ashafa spoke when he led members of Land Transport in the Senate and House of Representatives on an oversight function.

    Other lawmakers on the team are: Senator Lanre Tejuoso and the Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Aminu Sani Isa.

    Ashafa expressed satisfaction at the pace of work, saying the pace showed that the contractor was determined to deliver on schedule.

    Addressing reporters after the inspection, the Lagos East senator noted that though his committee was satisfied with the level of work on the project, he doubted if it could be delivered on schedule.

    He added that the project was about 70 per cent completed.

    According to him, the contractor requested an extension of the deadline, hinging the requests on some challenges on the project’s corridor.

    Quoting the contractor, Ashafa listed some of the challenges as encumbrances on the right of way on the Lagos corridor, such as the relocation of water pipelines, bridges and the relocation of the railway station proposed for Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    He said: “While we would hasten to urge the contractor to adhere to the deadline, we would want to say that they should let the Nigerian government know on time if they would need more time to deliver on this project.”

    The senator said he and his team were happy with the level of progress on the project, adding: “Even if what we have seen here 0- from Lagos up to Ibadan – is what this government was able to showcase before December, Nigerians would know that the government is committed to bequeathing to them a modern rail system.”

    Also, Isa said the oversight visit was to avail Nigerians an opportunity of verifying that the work rate matched government’s disbursements.

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, said the Federal Government was committed to delivering the project by December.

    He added: “With the rate at which the contractor is going, we are sure that it could still be completed on schedule or within a month or two more months, nonetheless. The major issues are civil works, as the track-laying can be completed within a month or two.”

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail will solve Apapa gridlock, says FRSC chief

    THE  Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge will ease traffic on Apapa roadwhen completed, a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official said yesterday.

    Lagos State Sector Commander Mr Hyginus Omeje, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the rail line would help reduce the influx of articulated vehicles into Apapa and its environs.

    “The new Lagos-Ibadan rail line, when completed, will help us resolve the Apapa gridlock.

    “The train will help in evacuating the containers in bulk instead of using trucks to pick them, thereby reducing traffic at the Apapa Port,” he said.

    According to him, one train can take about 20 to 30 containers off the port to either Ogun or Oyo state to decongest the Apapa community.

    “Through that we can start having dry port somewhere in Oyo, Ogun and other neighbouring states,” he said.

    The FRSC chief  said  the development would reduce the number of trucks coming into Lagos daily.

    He said  the project would also reduce the volume of traffic on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, adding that this would curb crashes in the corridor.

    Omeje advised motorists to drive safely and consider other road users to avoid crashes.

    He appealed to motorists to shun speed, drink driving and other habits that could cause accidents during festivities.

    NAN reports that the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) said it had started transporting containers from Apapa Port to Ebute Metta and Ijoko on the outskirts of Ogun State to ease gridlock in Apapa.

    NRC Lagos Railway District Manager Mr Jerry Oche said the operations were initiated to ease congestion in  Apapa Port.

    Oche said the corporation had developed a time table for freight movements to either NRC Ebute Metta junction terminal or to Ijoko in Ogun.

    “We have concentrated on moving containers from Apapa to Ijoko to curb traffic in Apapa and its environs.

    “We have time table and schedules for our two trips of 20 containers each per day.

    “About 40 containers were being transported to Ebute Metta terminal on daily basis to keep off trailers, trucks and all articulated vehicles from the road,’’ Oche said.

    According to him, apart from ship, train mass transit has the capacity to transport freight from one area to another without delay or damage.

    He said the corporation had discussed with three stakeholders dealing with freight at Apapa Port on the new services by the NRC.

    Oche said the freight shuttle services would reduce accidents and  the heavy traffic caused by articulated vehicles due to break down on the roads.

    The district manager said  the shuttle services would also go beyond Ijoko and be extended to Kajola and other terminus along Abeokuta axis.

    Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi had said  the Federal Government would deliver the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge project in December, this year.

    Amaechi spoke at Papalanto in Ogun State during his monthly visit and oversight functions at the construction site on December 12.

    According to him, the government is urging the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to fast-track the project for the benefit of the people by 2018.

     

  • N458b Lagos- Ibadan rail to be completed in 2018, says Osinbajo

    N458b Lagos- Ibadan rail to be completed in 2018, says Osinbajo

    ACting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has flagged off the N458 billion Lagos – Ibadan segment 11 modern rail way project, assuring that the project would be completed within the time frame of December 2018.
    Osinbajo who spoke at the ground breaking ceremony held at Nigerian Railway Corporation premises Ebute Metta, Lagos, yesterday described the development as a reflection of the Federal Government plan to build a globally competitive economy with first grade infrastructure.
    He said the development of a functional railway system in the country is very dear to President Muhadu Buhari, adding that the ground breaking of the Lagos-Ibadan project further signifies the determination of the president to modernize the national railway system.
    “The president in his January 2016 visit to China reopened negotiation on the Chinese support for this project, secondly this ceremony also mark the commencement of our plan to move speedily to improve links with Lagos which is the national economic nerve centre and major port to other state capital across the country.
    “We made provision for matching funds in 2016 budget to complement the concession loans obtain from the people Republic of China. We have the entire Lagos- Kano rail track as well as the Lagos-Calabar railway track in the 2017 budget.”
    The Acting president said negotiations has been completed on the next phase of Kaduna –Kano portion , said the government has provided the counterpart funding for the Lagos-calabar routes adding that negotiations with the foreign counterpart funding will be finalized within the next three months.
    According to him, “an active and vibrant railway system conferred many benefit on the society. Our ultimate goal is to restore a railway using culture for both commercial and personal transportation. We are confident that the national rail project will create up to half a million jobs and facilitate the movement of up to 3.2 tons of cargo per annum.
    “It will also reduce the burden on national high ways thus reducing deterioration of the road network and increasing the life span of our roads.”
    He stressed that railway network will support efforts to diversify the economy and enhance the country export potentials.
    “Just as several of our cities became known as railway towns in the past we expect to boost economic activities within the railway lines that will eventually cut across the entire country.”
    Osinbajo said the Federal Ministry For Transportation has completed feasibility study for up to 13 routes identify for connecting state capital and major commercial centres to the rail network .
    “We should begin to see significant activities in this regards very shortly. It is important however to have a viable self sustaining and vibrant rail system it should be one that is not reliant on government funding which many not be available all time it should be one that can be upgraded at all time and not left to decay to management or lack of attention.
    “This is why the FG supports the replacement of the 1964 railway acts with a legal frame work that open railway projects in the country to greater private sector participation” He said.
    He expressed confident in the ability of the construction company to deliver the project within the time frame work stating that Nigerians are looking forward to a fast and efficient railway services.
    Also speaking, Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said Lagosians are excited about the project because it would further open up economy of the South West region and facilitate regional integration and growth.
    “The agricultural sector will receive the long awaited boost as the rail line will be a fast and convenient means of transporting farm produce from the hinterland to the city thereby increasing the economies of these places.
    “In addition, our proposed Red Line Project will breathe a new lease of life into our roads and highways. A direct benefit of this project is that containers and goods from the Apapa Port will now be transported by rail thereby reducing the number of trailers and other heavy duty vehicles on our roads.
    “A direct consequence of this project would be less productive man hours wasted on the roads due to traffic gridlock and bad roads due to heavy duty vehicles. In addition, we expect government to expend less-resources on road repair and maintenance once the rail line takes off and reduce the pressure of articulated vehicles on our roads,” Ambode said.