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Tag: standard gauge

  • Standard gauge as catalyst for diversification

    The proposed dry port and industrial park at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan speed train project will activate the economic diversification opportunities of the standard gauge, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

    Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, seems set to regain its position as the economic and commercial hub of the old Western Region.

    At Olorisa Oko in Moniya, the terminal point of the ongoing speed train project, the state government has expressed interest to allocate 90 hectares of land to the Federal Government for the Ibadan Inland Dry Port (IIDP) and a cluster of industrial parks around the port side.

    Commending the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for the initiative, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi said developing an industrial park around the proposed port would stimulate the economic diversification of the Southwest.

    The project integration, it was learnt, has made the speed train project to outshoot its defined boundary of 156 kilometres by about one kilometre.

    Amaechi disclosed that no fewer than two million jobs would be created around the IIDP, while another eight to 10 million direct and indirect jobs would be created when the speed train corridor is delivered.

    According to the minister, the embedded opportunities in the speed train are huge, as it would not only stimulate a faster travel time for passengers, but ensure a quicker Return on Investment (ROI) for international trade, as businesses would connect faster and easier with their imports.

    He added that the project, when completed, will stimulate national and sub-national economic growth.

    The IIDP  location at the end of the project, he said, is strategic, adding that not only would it enhance the nation’s cargo handling and processing capacity, it would also provide additional means of integrating surface transportation of containers in the Southwest.

    Disruptive Innovations

    Though the standard gauge train tracks were former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s innovations, the IIDP’s establishment is among the many variations of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to make the project more robust and far reaching in its deliverables.

    Amaechi revealed that the dry port is one of the creative solutions to congestion at the ports, adding that by the time the project is delivered, the roads would be relieved of its cargo burden, thereby restricting truckers to last mile shuttles – the dry ports to warehouses and factories.

    The project, the Minister said, is aimed at diversifying the economy and making international trade more attractive and competitive.

    He assured that the Federal and the Oyo State governments would provide world- class infrastructure and facilities at the IIDP.

    Amaechi, who was accompanied by the Ghanaian Minister of Railway Development, Mr Joe Ghartey and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello, assured promoters of the project and others that the Federal Government would follow laid-down rules and procedures before concessioning the port.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ishmael Olalekan Ali,  said the project would create wealth, generate massive employment and boost Southwest’s economy.

    He urged Amaechi to sustain the tempo and ensure the train’s completion.

    According to him, the people are happy that the Federal Government is thinking of bringing such project to Ibadan,  assuring that despite that his administration was winding down, nothing would impede the progress of the work in the state.

    Bello said Ibadan being the former capital of the old Western Region, a commercial and industrial centre, which draws huge agricultural trade in local and export volumes, and a transportation/logistics hub, has all it takes to make the state a suitable choice for an inland dry port.

    The same factors, according to Bello, will contribute to making the port very viable. He said: “The Inland Dry Port has the potential of not only reducing transport cost and bringing shipping to the door steps of the shippers, but can also generate employment opportunities in the region of about two million jobs, which would boost the local and Southwest regional economy.”

    Speaking on the economic benefits of the project to the nation, Bello said: “It will enhance the nation’s cargo handling and processing capacity. It would also introduce modern and sophisticated processes and procedures for containerised cargo handling.”

    The IDP, according to him, will also serve as cargo consolidation point and offer Customs clearance services for export cargo originating from and import destined for the Southwest zone. It will equally provide cargo sorting centre and temporary storage facility among others.

    Bello said: “At the end of May, tracks would have been laid up to Ibadan, which would in itself open a huge bouquet of opportunities for private sector investment, especially in the building and management of the 10 railway stations.  So, there will be opportunity for employment as well as community involvement. The government is creating chains of opportunities and the employment content of this project is very high.”

    On how shippers will benefit from the railway, he said: “The shippers will benefit more than anybody because the cost of transportation of cargoes from the sea to their warehouses will reduce drastically. Trucking is the only method we have now. The truckers should, therefore, brace up for competition as the law of demand and supply will apply and then the security and safety of the cargo will improve. All of these would make cargo train more attractive and the government can better drive this by putting in place laws that make cargo movement by train mandatory.”

    Such a regulation, he said, would decongest the port because the nation hitherto has about 90 per cent of her cargoes movements on the road mode.  “When we have a cheaper mode, the other modes will be affected. With this project, Nigeria will never be the same again,” Bello said.

    The Ghanaian Minister said the speed train’s impact would reverberate across the continent and the West African subregion. Ghartey who said Ghana would be awarding contract for a 100-kilometre standard gauge from the Port city of Tema, to Takoradi, visited the Nigerian project last Friday for peer review. They were awed.

    “I have come, I have seen and I am very impressed,” Ghartey said, praising Nigeria for being blessed with “a very hard working minister”.  He continued: “I heard the project is well ahead of schedule by about one year. And you will agree with me that it is not usual that you have a project of this magnitude being  ahead of schedule.

    “How has he done it? He has done it by being hands on. He could have sat back at the ministry and be taking reports, but instead he comes here, following the project and pushing the contractors hard.”

    He said he came to Nigeria to learn, and more particularly, to show CCECC Ghana and its consultants that if CCECC Nigeria can do it, they must achieve same feat within reasonable time.

    Ghartey praised Nigeria for realising that the future would be determined by smart transportation as goods and passengers would rely on efficient, safe and affordable transportation and governments must provide the lead in making these available to the people.

    Read also: Railway interconnectivity may gulp $40bn – Amaechi

    He said Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa are leading other African countries with viable railway systems and commended Nigeria and Ghana for joining the league.

    “We are not as big as Nigeria in size, and so all our projects are not just in Ghana. As we speak, we have signed a treaty with Burkina Faso for a rail connectivity, which is about 1,300 kilometres, from the Port city of Tema to Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.

    Ghana, he said, is already doing about 100km of the first section of that line from Tema to Akosombo. Ghana is also thinking of a rail link to Eluhu, in Aflao, Cote d’Ivoire, and with such linkage, getting a rail link to Nigeria, may not be a mirage.

    “Even though I cannot say there are any concrete talks right now, it is very possible in the near future in our life time, to be able to take a train from Lagos to Accra and vice versa because once Ghana can link up to Cote d’Ivoire, linking Benin Republic and then Nigeria may just be a possibility,” he added.

    Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa said Amaechi has done well in driving the project. According to him, achieving about 30kilometres of rail tracks since the committee’s last visit in February was a sign that the minister is not resting on his oars. He also praised the project’s capacity to generate jobs. He said about 10,000 jobs have been created since it was flagged off in 2017.

    He assured that the legislature would continue to partner the executive to ensure that the project is not stalled.

    Amaechi allayed fears of the project being abandoned, adding that the government has fully paid its counterpart funding while the ChinaExim has released the fund for the project. Moreover, its success at the poll has guaranteed the project’s continuance.

    With that assurance, it is only a question of time for the project. The nation can hardly wait for its delivery for its huge attraction to the economy.

  • ‘Standard gauge ‘ll ease Ibadan, Abeokuta workers’ movement’

    There is the possibility of residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, coming to work in Lagos State when the standard gauge rail line takes off, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) said yesterday.

    Lagos Railway District Manager (RDM) Mr. Jerry Oche told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the nearly completed Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would open opportunities for communities within the railway corridors.

    He said: “This is a huge opportunity for people living along the corridors. Many people will prefer to live in Abeokuta and work in Lagos State due to speed and timeliness of the new train.

    “The development will even open business opportunities for communities along the railway corridors.”

    Oche said the standard gauge would travel at 150km per hour, and Lagos-Ibadan is 156km journey through the standard gauge.

    “So, you can live in Ibadan and work in Lagos, which is a very good development for people and for our economy.

    “The train travelling with such speed will curtail the menace of gridlock in the cities and relieve the highway of pressure, as travellers will prefer going with train rather than through the road,” he added.

    The RDM said the infrastructure would also bring vast job opportunities and social advantages to the youth, the populace and the states.

    “Perishable goods in communities will now be easily transported to the city where the demands are higher, thereby reducing the cost of goods and services,” he said.

    The standard gauge is expected to be test run early next month.

     

  • Standard gauge: Fed Govt expresses disappointment over slow pace work

    THE Federal Government yesterday expressed deep worry over the slow pace of work on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line.

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi made the government’s position known after a routine inspection of the project at Ologuneru, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    He said the Federal Government is dissatisfied with the slow pace of work, particularly at the Lagos end of the project, and directed the contractor to speed up work.

    The Federal Government had expected that the Chinese contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation ( CECC), deliver the $1.5 billion project by December.

    Addressing reporters after the regular monthly implementation committee meeting of the project, Amaechi listed water pipelines and water mains as well as the gas and oil pipelines as the reasons adduced by the firm for the slow pace.

    He said while they seemed tenable, they were inexcusable as the issues were known and the solutions would have been provided.

    The minister said: “They (CCECC) have adduced reasons for the slow pace of work at the Lagos end by saying that the contractor they awarded the relocation of the water pipelines to will finish by November 2. Though tenable, this is inexcusable.”

    “If I say I am impressed with the CCECC on the Lagos axis of this project, then I am lying. We are just not there in the Lagos area at all.

    “We have resolved all the crisis in Lagos, and I must commend the Lagos Water people for resolving the water pipelines issue, which constituted a major hindrance to the project.

    “After the resolution of these issues, the CCECC have refused to mobilise to site in Lagos.”

    He said while the speed between Ogun and Ibadan is encouraging, the speed from Ogun to Ebute Metta and from Ebute Metta to Apapa is discouraging. “They saw this from the beginning and ought to have identified the solution from the beginning, so they need to increase the pace of work,” Amaechi said.

    He added that the contractor is asking for additional two months to complete that.

    On the December deadline given to the contractor, the minister explained that the project was originally designed for execution in three years, but is been forced into a year project.

    “Don’t forget this is a three years project that we are trying to complete within a year. As I speak, there are only three bridges remaining to be completed between Abeokuta and Ibadan. Between Ogun and Lagos, there are just few bridges remaining to be completed. We will keep piling pressure on them to make sure the project is completed quickly,” Amaechi added.

     

  • Standard Gauge: Work begins on Ebute-Meta modern train station

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday said work had started on the Ebute Meta ultra-modern railway station.

    This is in line with the workflow plan on the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge line.

    The corporation’s Deputy Director (Public Relations), Mr Yakub Mahmood, spoke to The Nation at his office in Lagos.

    The NRC spokesman said the contractor handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), had begun demolition of affected staff quarters to give way for the station.

    According to him, the corporation has paid the affected workers one-year rent to enable them secure alternative accommodation.

    Mahmood said: “The station will be one of its kind in the country. It is going to be an up-to-date station with many features going with contemporary technology.

    “Some staff quarters at Ebute-Meta have been demolished for the project; the residents have been compensated financially.”

    NRC’s Lagos District Manager Jerry Oche said the construction of the standard gauge as well as other civil works on the Lagos corridor started fully following relocation of underground pipelines and cables.

    According to him, water pipelines, cables and other underground public utility installations posed a challenge to execution of the work in Lagos.

    Oche said: “We all know that the standard gauge in the Lagos axis – from Apapa to Ijoko in Ogun State – is on the same corridor with the narrow gauge.

    “Because of government commitment to deliver the project on schedule, there is an increase in the pace of work.

    “The project has been concentrated outside Lagos, like Ifo, Papalanto and Itori in Ogun State, as a result of the underground cables and pipelines challenges in the city.

    “But all the challenges around Lagos State have been resolved and work has started fully on the axis.”

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had said the new standard gauge would entice a lot of investors to the states as there would be efficiency and timeliness in train services for passengers and cargo traffic.

    The minister said the standard gauge would be efficient, reliable and faster than the narrow gauge.

    He added: “When you spend less than an hour from Apapa (Lagos) to Ibadan (Oyo), it would be an advantage to the users.”

    Amaechi said the new trains would run at 100 to 150 kilometres per hour.

  • Work begins on Lagos rail standard gauge

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has said the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard rail gauge has started fully as the challenges of underground pipelines and cables have been resolved.

    NRC’s Lagos District Manager, Mr Jerry Oche, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that work had started on the laying of standard rail gauge from the Lagos axis.

    He said: “We all know that the standard gauge in Lagos axis – from Apapa to Ijoko in Ogun State – is in the same corridor with narrow gauge.

    “Now, so far so good, the government is serious about delivering the project on schedule. There is an increase in the pace of work on the Lagos axis.

    “The project has been concentrated outside Lagos as a result of the underground cables and pipelines challenges in the city.

    “But all have been resolved now and work has started wholly in the axis.”

    According to him, water pipelines, cables and other installations underground posed challenge to the work in Lagos.

    The NRC district manager said some of the railway staff quarters were also affected by the construction.

    He said the corporation had paid the affected workers a year’s accommodation rent to secure alternative accommodation, pending when the new quarters built for them would be completed.

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, recently said the laying of tracks of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line would start as soon as the issue on installations of public utilities were resolved.

    Amaechi spoke at Papalanto in Ogun State during an assessment of progress of work on the rail line.

    According to him, the contractor in charge of the project will start laying the tracks in the Lagos axis as soon as issues on cables and the pipelines are resolved.

    He said: “I am satisfied with the rate at which the project is going. I know the project will be delivered in due course.

    “The laying of tracks will start in Lagos soon. What the engineers are doing now is to ensure proper channels before the laying of the tracks.”

  • Standard gauge: Work to begin on Lagos corridor in June, says Amaechi

    MiNISTER of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said yesterday that work will begin on the Lagos corridor  of Lagos-Ibadan rail standard gauge in June.

    The minister has promised to deliver the project in December.

    Amaechi acknowledged the effort of the Lagos State government in resolving challenges disrupting the pace of work.

    The challenges, he noted,  are gas and petroleum pipeline, as well as water and sewage removal.

    The minister spoke after an inspection of the project at Papalanto in Ogun State.

    Assessing the work, he noted that work has moved from Ijoko in Ogun State to Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    “We have made appreciable speed between Papalanto and Ibadan. In order not to affect our deadline, we need to resume work in Lagos,” Amaechi said.

    The minister said the contractor had made progress in tracks laid, and was laying beams of two bridges at Papalanto.

    Although he could not confirm kilometres of tracks  laid, Amaechi said 17 bridges would be built between Papalanto and Ibadan, with two  in Lagos.

    Amaechi earlier hinted at a meeting that the Federal Government will go ahead with the project, if Lagos continued to pose a challenge.

    He said: “We agreed a long time ago that while we (Federal Government) would take care of the gas and petroleum pipelines, Lagos would take care of the replacement of the water and sewage removal.

    “If Lagos refuses to come up with its solutions, we would be left with no choice but to use our old, narrow gauge alignment, which can accommodate what we wanted to do and leave Lagos to look for another alignment when it is ready to start its Red Line light rail project.”

    But the minister later admitted that Lagos had come up with a workable solution.

    “We have agreed that Lagos State should come back to the meeting within the next two weeks with the solutions so that work can resume as scheduled on the Lagos corridor by June,” he said.

    On the threat by rains, Amaechi said the engineers had assured that work will continue.

    He said CCECC has affirmed his promise to deliver the project in December.

  • Lagos-Ibadan: Track-laying on standard gauge begins

    •Mohammed: December delivery of rail line sure

    LAYING of tracks on the standard gauge of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has begun, it was learnt.

    China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), in  March, assured Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi that track-laying will begin in April.

    At yesterday’s project monitoring meeting, with Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, present, Amaechi hailed the  progress so far.

    The minister said the laying of tracks started from Itori section of the project.

    Two track-laying machines were working on site.

    CCECC has a big fabricating yard at Itori, where it produces materials for the construction of fast lane rail tracks.

    A Federal Government team is in the CCECC yard at Papalanto to address challenges, such as water and gas pipelines, bridges, among others.

    Track-laying has not started in Lagos due to some obstructions.

    Challenges, such as power cables, water pipes and mains, structures and bridges at the Lagos end are reportedly holding up the work.

    However, the Federal Government has restated its commitment to deliver the standard gauge by December.

    Mohammed spoke when he addressed reporters, with  Amaechi present.

    He noted that with the track-laying, the project will be delivered on time.

    The minister said the contractor had two track-laying equipment, which could lay 1.2 kilometres per day each.

    He added: “If we can cover between 2.4 to 2.6 kilometres per day, it is possible to deliver by December. All of us, including the contractor and the consultants, have agreed to ensure that this is realised.”

    Mohammed said he came to see the progress of work and what the government had been doing in the transportation sector.

    He said: “We are happy that not only is the project going smoothly, but that the contractor has employed about 7,000 Nigerians since it started 18 months ago.

    “As you know, this is our flagship project. At our meeting today, the contractor and the consultants saw why they must double up and ensure that we deliver on schedule.

    ‘’There is nothing to fear that this project may suffer and its delivery date changed.”

     

  • Delivering standard gauge in December shaky, says Amaechi

    Delivering standard gauge in December shaky, says Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday expressed doubt about meeting the December deadline for the delivery of the $1.5 billion standard gauge rail line project.

    Addressing reporters at Papalanto in Ogun State after his inspecting the project and listening to the contractor, the minister gave the project a 50/50 chance of delivery by December.

    Previously, Amaechi had said the project would be completed in December, with the hope that President Muhammadu Buhari will kick-start the commercial operation of the line in January 2019.

    Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is handling the project.

    Amaechi said: “It is a 50/50/chance. As at last year, yes, they (the CCECC) were keeping to the work schedule. But as it is now, they are lagging behind. We are at a point where we are struggling to complete the civil engineering work before the rains begin. Otherwise, it would have to be suspended until after the rains.”

    By the original schedule, CCECC ought to have begun laying the tracks of the project this month.

    Expressing worry over the delay, the minister said the track-laying will start in April.

    He listed gas pipeline, high tension electric cables, water mains, bridges, among other impediments, as factors militating against the speed of the project.

    Amaechi said: “Our major challenges are in places like Lagos and Abeokuta in Ogun State, which have all been built up. One should expect a slow pace in built-up places. But more speed would be gathered as the project heads to Ibadan.

    “One thing Nigerians should also realise is that this is a three-year project timeline that we are trying to ensure we finish within two years. Though the pace is slow, but it is encouraging.”

    The minister said compensation had been paid for properties that were destroyed because of the project.

    According to him, those with issues are those who have given their lawyers the power of attorney to help them secure their payment.

    He said: “The directive I have issued those in charge is to pay directly to those affected. I will be very glad if they would be the ones to collect their money without having to pay anyone any 10 per cent fees.”

    The inspection took Amaechi through Agege, Itoki, Ijoko, Ewekoro, Papalanto, and Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

  • Two Lagos bridges to make way for standard gauge

    •Costain, Jibowu to be affected, says minister 

    THE Costain and Jibowu bridges on Lagos Mainland will soon be demolished to pave way for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaech, has said.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday at Papalanto in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, ending speculations on the fate of the Lagos bridges.

    The Chinese contractor, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), had identified the bridges as being too low for the head room projected for the proposed speed train.

    The minister said the Ijoko Bridge in Ogun State would not be demolished, adding that stakeholders agreed that the rail tracks should go down by a few metres to give them the right height under the bridge.

    Speaking after a tour of the project with other members of the steering committee, Amaechi said it was decided that though the two bridges would be demolished, they would be rebuilt immediately to avoid disruption of the state’s pattern of mobility.

    Amaechi said the two bridges carry a huge cargo and passenger traffic.

    On the project, Amaechi disclosed that CCECC will begin to lay the tracks from Lagos in December, while that of Papanlanto to Ibadan will start by next May.

    Amaechi, who restated Federal Government’s commitment to the December 2018 deadline for the project, said the areas that pose the greatest challenges are Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan, especially the cities’ built-up areas.

    According to him, major infrastructure, such as bridges, electric cables, water and gas pipelines, houses and telecommunications cables, would be relocated to give the project a smooth sail.

    He expressed the confidence that despite the challenges, the Presidential Order to deliver the project remained on course.

    Amaechi said he was confident that CCECC’s work flow was in tandem with the work plan designed by the Ministry of Transportation and its stakeholders.

    He added: “I have seen that the contractor has put three different gangs in place: the first at Ebute Metta, the second at Ijoko and the third at Papalanto, all of which are working simultaneously. If this pace is maintained, we have no doubt that we will be able to deliver this project to Nigerians on schedule.”

    The minister urged the Project Coordinator, Mr Leo Yin, to complete the necessary documentation to enable the government provide tight security on the project site.

    He visited Ijoko, Itori and Papalanto community in Ogun State as part of the monthly site monitoring of the project.

    Yin expressed the confidence that the project would be delivered by December 2018.

     

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail ready next year

    Lagos-Ibadan rail ready next year

    THE Federal Government is committed to providing standard gauge rail service to Lagosians by the fourth quarter of 2018, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said.

    He spoke after assessing the project at Ijoko, in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government area of Ogun State.

    “We have said 2018 and that is a presidential directive. By December 2018, we want to see locomotives running from Lagos to Ibadan. We are committed to achieving this and the fund obtained from China Exim Bank is already on ground to ensure that nothing obstructs this timeline.”

    He said: “Primary constraint the contractor identified are the height of two pedestrian bridges in Lagos (at Oshodi and Ikeja), and an ongoing flyover bridge at Ijoko. The second problem was the multiplicity of level crossing on the rail’s right of way. The contractor said they could not proceed on laying the rail tracks until those impediments are sorted out.”

    Amaechi, who briefed reporters on site with the Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun, said as soon as the issues of the flyover height and others associated with the right-of-way are addressed, actual work would begin on the project.

    He said while the project needs a minimum height of 6.5 metres, the identified bridges are about 4.5 metres high.

    The minister added that the height of the bridge would have to be raised higher to accommodate future electrification of the train’s right-of-way.

    Amaechi and Amosun agreed that engineers from the contractor and the Ministry of Work and the Ministry of Transportation should meet on the best way to resolve the logjam.

    The minister said the governor approved the closure of the two roads abutting the bridge to allow unhindered operation around the train’s right-of-way.

    “The engineers are going to meet from today and we will also meet by Wednesday. So, by Friday, I would be meeting with Governor Amosun on the best option identified by the engineers and that’s what we’re going to take,” he said.

    Thanking the Federal Government for coming up finally with the standard gauge project, Amosun said Ogun State is committed to working with the government to resolve all the challenges to achieve the modern train service.