BY ODILI CHRISTEL
The Nigerian government has announced fresh plans to introduce new rail lines to complement existing ones in the country.
The country’s Minster of transportation Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi disclosed while inspecting the soon to be commissioned Abuja-Kaduna railway that dilapidated existing lines would be re-built and new ones would be constructed across the country in order to ease Nigeria’s mass transportation issues. Railways were first constructed in Nigeria through forced labour by British colonialists at the turn of nineteenth century.
Mr. Amaechi promised that the new Kaduna/Abuja project would be test run in May and that Nigerian citizens would not be charged boarding fare while the pilot scheme last. The minister noted that by May this year the federal government is expected to flag off commercial activities of the rail station being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in Abuja. Making it known, that so far the Abuja-Kaduna rail is 100% ready for use, reiterating that travellers going from Abuja to Kaduna can use the services come May.
He also stated that rail service will ensure that provisions would be made for people with disabilities to enable them use the facilities.
“We have also directed the CCECC to provide lift in all the train station for the physically challenged so that they would be able to access the platforms” he said.
He noted that those that were affected by the construction due to demolition would be adequately compensated. At the site of one of the buildings X-marked for demolition, Mr. Amaechi said that property owners would be adequately compensated for their sacrifice towards the realization of the dream. He also met with management of Daughters of Charity hospital.st Vincent De Pual hospital, Kubwa.
Amaechi explained that CCEC is expected to provide an institution that would enable Nigerians gain the skills and expertise in core areas of railway usage.
While shedding more light on funding, he noted that federal government has made available the sum of 120billion Naira for railway construction project, 60 billion is for the Lagos- Kano railway which is FG’scontribution while the Chinese NEXIM bank will make the other contribution
In his words, “ the Lagos – Calabar, another 60 billion will be our own counterpart funding because the contract has already been awarded by previous governments so what we are doing is to implement those projects that have not been abandoned for many years.
The minister called on the contractors to keep to their side of the deal by ensuring the completion of the project at the appropriate time.