The Federal Government yesterday pledged that the Lagos-Ibadan standard rail service will formally commence operations by January 2019.
Though, it admitted that there challenges facing it, the Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, in a statement signed by Director Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Yetunde Sonoike, from Ibadan, Oyo State, said it had adopted carefully considered measures to holistically tackle the challenges of obstruction caused by water, gas and sewage pipelines.
The minister said: “We hope this project will be completed within the life span of construction, as Nigerians are eager to start enjoying the dividend of democracy”
On the challenges being confronted on the project, he said a committee was set up chaired by the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation, Mr. Usman Abubakar, with representatives from the Nigerian Army, NRC, Lagos State Government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the construction giant, CCECC as members.
The minister added that the committee were carefully selected putting into consideration that they will ensure that they proffer solution to the challenges as the deadline for completion of the project is December 2018.
Amaechi, said government was working on a proposal to build a railway station in Abeokuta instead of paying the huge compensation of N2.8 billion.