- Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project Almost Completed –FG
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that the construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line project was gradually coming to an end.
It said the project was being finalised as train ride would commence from Iju in Lagos State to Abeokuta in Ogun State by the first week of January 2019.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this while inspecting the rail project alongside some members of the House of Representatives, further stated that the target of the Federal Government was that by the end of January next year, the train service would also start operations in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Amaechi said, “We are gradually coming to the end of the project because we are 6km away from Abeokuta and I have been assured, even though sometimes they may not keep to their promises, that we will be able to ride from Iju to Abeokuta at least by the first week of January.
“The idea is to bring the Vice-President and some ministers to join us in the ride. When we do the ride we will then allow passengers to use it up to Abeokuta. Our target is that by the end of the month we should get to Ibadan by rail.”
The minister stated that after the completion of the rail lines, the government would put pressure on the contractor handling the project to fully carry out work on the train stations.
Amaechi added, “We can begin to put the pressure on them (contractors) to build the stations, for as you drive past the stations, you’ll see that they are working but they are slow because I’ve told them that emphasis should be on the tracks.
“In fact, I will tell them not to continue to build the two tracks, but to focus on one so that while we are using that one, they can be building the second track. Because as they take the two, it’s slowing down the construction period.”
Providing further proof that the $1.6bn project had recorded appreciable progress, Amaechi said, “Don’t forget that when we started, it was a huge forest. In fact, as we traverse this area, most places are no longer known to us. There are now bridges in the little waters we used to drive across; there are now valleys in the hills we used to climb. There are changes.”
The minister added, “While we congratulate the Chinese for their technologies, one thing Nigerians must learn is how to build for ourselves our own roads and railways. Other countries did it. We cannot continue to depend on other peoples’ technology. The earlier we learnt that, the better.”
He also stated that the Lagos-Ibadan rail project would get about eight locomotives from the Ajaokuta Steel Company, adding that wagons were also being expected from the steel firm.
