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Tag: Lagos-Ibadan railway

  • Lagos-Ibadan Railway project cost $1.58bn – FG

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Sabiu Zakari, says the total contract sum of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project is 1.58 billion dollars as against two billion dollars being insinuated by some media.

    Zakari made this known in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press of the Ministry,  Anastasia Ogbonna, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said the cost index/km of the project is 4.09 million dollars as against the 13.6 million dollars also alleged by a section of the media.

    The Permanent Secretary assured Nigerians that the Lagos-Ibadan railway project was being executed in the spirit of transparency and accountability, which the present administration stood for.

    According to him, the clarification became imperative following insinuations by some media organisations that the project was inflated over and above “a non-existent one in Ghana.”

    Zakari said that information has it that “at best, the said Ghanaian project is at conceptual stage as there were neither construction designs nor cost estimates.

    “Similarly, to give credence to the fact that there is no basis for comparism as raised by the allegations, the Ghanaian government has since refuted the publication.”

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    He described the said Ghanaian project as containing a lot of factual inaccuracies.

    Zakari explained that the Lagos-Ibadan railway project was actually 386km since it is a double track rail line.

    He said this was against the 156km alleged which is just the distance from Ebute Meta (Lagos) and Ibadan terminal stations only.

    According to him, railway project does not depend solely on the distance between terminal points but rely on various factors.

    He listed some of the factors to include but not limited to terrain, core operation accessories, land acquisition and compensation, earthworks, bridges, culverts and stations.

    The permanent secretary said that ‘Due Diligence’ was followed in the award of the contract.

    He said the project was approved by Federal Executive Council after a Certificate of No Objection by the Bureau of Public Procurement was issued.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the first segment of the project was approved in 2012.

     

    While the current administration approved the second segment to link Ebute Meta (Lagos) to Apapa Port complex to ease the perennial traffic.

     

    NAN

     

  • Lagos-Ibadan railway: Amaechi summons CCECC MD over shortage of equipment on site

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has summoned the Managing Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over shortage of equipment deployed for the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard guage rail project.

    Amaechi summoned the official during the monthly inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor in Ibadan, Oyo state.

    He said that though he was impressed with the level of progress on the project, adding that for more to be done before the December deadline, more equipment must be purchased for the launching of beams.

    According to him, CCECC needs to launch the beams in three months with more equipment, one launching toward Ibadan and the other toward Papalanto and Abeokuta.

    Amaechi, however, scheduled a meeting with the CCECC Managing Director on Monday to deliberate on the way forward on some of the challenges limiting the progress of work on the site.

    “The problem with the launching of the beams is that they are ready to launch, but they don’t have enough equipment, if they get enough equipment then they can launch more beams.

    “However, if they don’t get more equipment then we have a problem.

    “They have just two equipment, one launching from Ibadan now, which the company said still has five outstanding (bridge) then one launching from Papalanto to Abeokuta.

    “They have about four or five (bridges) to Lagos and even if they want to launch them together it will take three months because if they don’t launch it, we can’t cross.

    “We are impressed with the work they have done from Ibadan to Abeokuta, because of the choice of station location in Abeokuta, they completely abandoned it from Abeokuta to kilometer 133.

    “However, today, we drove up to kilometer 89, meaning that it was just two more kilometres to get to the MKO Abiola pavilion.

    “They have relatively done well, I think by December the whole work should be ready that won’t be the problem.

    “The problem is launching of beams to cross and the laying of tracks because you can’t lay tracks unless you cross the bridge that is why I said they need to get more equipment,” he said.

    The minister said he wanted to see their work programmes, reason he asked the Managing Director to see him.

    He stressed the need for the company to possibly buy more equipment, to fast-track the project, saying that only bridges and minor Civil works are left.

    Amaechi, however, said that they are still on course to meet the December deadline, adding that the issue on the stations’ design would be concluded in two weeks.

    The minister noted that what worried him now was not the issue of pipes, saying that there was disagreement with the design between TEAM and CCECC, not in terms of structural, technical or electrical but that they have not brought it for the team to approve.

    He said that the government has given them two weeks to return all the design of all the stations, saying some of the stations won’t take up-to two months to be completed.

    Amaechi explained that they still have two years more to complete the contract, saying that Nigerians are eager to see results.

  • ‘Lagos-Ibadan railway to be completed in December’

    Minister of Transport Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has said the Federal Government is insisting on the completion of Lagos-Ibadan railway by December.

    He said it has decided that the construction company in charge should move back to Lagos and begin work.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of his meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos House, Alausa.

    The company handling the project is China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

    He said the Federal Government was working on two types of railway, namely “the narrow gauge, which is already on and the standard gauge. They are emptying into the Apapa seaport.”

    The minister said Lagos had two mega stations, which were at Apapa and Ebute Metta, but both were too small.

    “We are going to expand the stations.

    “We are going to have a mall and hotel at the two stations, but we are looking for investors. So we should have two very big stations in Lagos, one in Apapa and the other in Ebute Metta; then Abeokuta and Ibadan,” he added.

    Amaechi said the Federal Government on Wednesday awarded a contract on the Tin Can-Oworonshoki-Ojota road, adding that Dangote was doing one other part of it.

    “What we are trying to do there is to get good roads to evacuate cargoes, but it will be faster with the rail. So while we are working hard to make sure that the rail is delivered by the end of this year, the Federal Government has also awarded a contract to deal with the road from Apapa and Tin Can to enable us evacuate cargoes freely. This is an addition to the rail,” he said.

    The minister hailed Governor Ambode, who he said “has been very cooperative from the beginning till now.”

    Ambode thanked the Federal Government for approving the reconstruction of Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi expressway up to the toll gate.

    “It is in continuation of finding a solution to what has been happening in Apapa, especially in the past two weeks, which has seen Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo visiting Lagos twice in the last two weeks and promising remedies to the situation.”

     

  • Lagos-Ibadan railway to be completed in December – Amaechi

    Minister of Transport, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi has said that the Federal Government is insisting on the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan railway by December and has thus decided that the construction company should move back to Lagos and commence construction immediately.

    Amaechi disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of his meeting with Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos House on Thursday.

    The construction company handling the project is the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC.

    According to him, there are two types of railway the FG is working on, “the narrow gauge which is already on and the standard gauge and they are emptying into the Apapa Sea port.”

    He said that Lagos has two mega stations which are at Apapa and Ebute Metta but that both stations are too small, “so we are going to expand the two stations.

    “We are going to have a Mall and hotel in the two stations, but we are looking for investors. So we should have two very big stations in Lagos, one in Apapa and the other in Ebute Metta; then Abeokuta and Ibadan.

    Amaechi also said that the FG on Wednesday awarded a contract on the Tin Can-Oworonshoki-Ojota road and that Dangote was doing one other part of it.

    “What we are trying to do there is to get good roads to evacuate cargoes, but it will be faster with the rail. So while we are working hard to make sure that the rail is delivered by this year ending, FG has also awarded a contract to deal with the road from Apapa and Tin Can to enable us evacuate cargoes freely and that is an addition to the rail”, Amaechi said.

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    The Minister praised Governor Ambode who he said has been “very cooperative from the beginning till now”, he also praised the communities from Lagos to Ibadan that allowed the FG to use their land for the project, adding that “we are here to see a win-win situation”.

    Also addressing the correspondents, Ambode thanked the FG and the Federal Executive Council, FEC for approving the reconstruction of the Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi expressway up to the toll gate on Wednesday.

    “It is in continuaton of finding a permanent solution to what has been happening in Apapa especially in the past two weeks which has seen the Vice president visiting Lagos twice in the past two weeks and promising remedies to the situation.”

    Ambode further thanked the Ministers of Transport and Works “because the road construction that is commencing in Lagos next week is actually from Apapa Port up to Ibadan.

    “That means we are having a two pronged approach to be able to cart away cargoes from Lagos to other parts of the country.

    “We reinterate the commitment to collaborate with the FG as a State Government to make sure that we reduce the sufferings of Lagosians and I am happy that we have come out of this meeting stronger together with the FG and transport ministry to make sure that this particular rail project is delivered in the next 12 months”, Ambode said.
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  • Leaders kick as $1.5b loan for Lagos-Ibadan railway is stuck

    Leaders kick as $1.5b loan for Lagos-Ibadan railway is stuck

    •National Assembly delays approval of Chinese facility

    Federal lawmakers came under fire yesterday for delaying the $1.5billion Chinese loan for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard rail gauge.

    The National Assembly slashed N21billion off the N31billion estimate in the 2017 budget for the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    All conditions for the loan  were met over six months ago. Only the lawmakers’ approval is yet to be obtained.

    Last month, the presidential request for the loan’s approval was read by Senate President Bukola Saraki and referred to the Committee on Foreign Loans headed by Senator Shehu Sani. Since then, it has been kept in abeyance.

    Stakeholders faulted the lawmakers, wondering why such an important rail project which connects the nation’s economic hub to other parts of the country was left unattended to.

    Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora said the issue deserved expedited action given the importance of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project. “Whatever the reason the lawmakers have for not according it the priority it deserves, they should have a re-think”.

    According to him, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is the busiest road in the country and there is an absolute necessity to have an alternative. “That’s why the rail project is not only desirable, but inevitable. The earlier we did it, the better. It would take off a lot of load, as far as the transportation of heavy goods is concerned. This way, it would reduce haulage on the roads.”

    Mamora added: “It should be a priority thing for us to do. My appeal is to the National Assembly to have a re-think and approve the loan in the interest of the nation.

    ”We have many ports in Lagos and we need to use the train to evacuate goods to all parts of the country. Too much pressure on the roads is responsible for the state of disrepair of our roads nationwide. The plan of the present government is to connect all state capitals with rail.”

    Lawyer and human rights activist Monday Ubani said if it was true that the National Assembly is dilly-dallying on the matter, then it amount to “the worst decision taken by the National Assembly, because 90 per cent of Nigerians will want an efficient railway system in Lagos, which would connect other parts of the country”.

    The Second National Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said having an efficient railway system would reduce pressure exerted on roads by trucks.

    He said: “What baffles me is that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the majority in the National Assembly; must the lawmakers sabotage the programme of their party? Whose interest are they representing?”

    Afenifere Publicity Secretary Yinka Odumakin said the issue had been on for quite sometime, adding that it appeared there were forces bent on sabotaging the Southwest.

    Odumakin said: “What they are doing cannot be an accident; they want to deny the Southwest projects that are very dear to it. I want to say doing that would be very daring and unacceptable.

    “We are waiting for them and will definitely rise up against this abnormally. The Southwest has a lot to offer in terms of ensuring the advancement of the country. What they do not understand is that the project does not stand to benefit the Southwest alone, but the entire country through mutual interaction, facilitated by communication.”

    Fromer Transport Minister Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said it would be a bad omen, if the National Assembly worked against the project.

    He said: “The issue of railways again? When I was minister, we did everything within our powers to give the necessary support to the project. We ensured that the railways from Lagos to Calabar functioned well. Again, we have not got full rail development in Nigeria.

    “Whoever offers us any assistance we should embrace it. I want to appeal to the National Assembly to reconsider its stand and support what will bring progress to the Southwest and the entire country.”