By Christel Odili
The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said, the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge which is a $1.6b railway track
that would connect the South-West cities of Ibadan and Lagos is on track for completion.
Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this while inspecting the rail project alongside some members of the House of Representatives, led by its chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin, top officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, top management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, the CCECC and a consortium of Federal Government engineers and consultants.
Amaechi while speaking with journalists 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.
According to him, “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 added: “This project is nearing completion, right now, work has advanced and we are six kilometres away from Abeokuta.
He further stated that after the completion of the rail lines, the government would put on pressure the contractor handling the project to fully carry out work on the train stations.
Amaechi noted that, once the track is flagged off, the route would be opened for passenger traffic while efforts would be doubled to ensure the standard gauge be taken to Ibadan.
He said work would begin on the construction of stations immediately the project gets to Ibadan.
The Minister however expressed dismay on the slow pace of work being handled by the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail corridor especially from Abeokuta in Ogun state to Ibadan in Oyo State.
He 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.
On his part, the chairman house committee on land and Transportation, Abdulmumin Jibrin said the national assembly will continue to support the ministry to see that the project is completed.
According to him, “Whenever you have this magnitude of work going on, you must have issues but then with what is going on here the minister deserve commendation with all his team from my side we will continue to support the ministry to see that the project comes to completion.”
He further commended the Minister and his team for efficient handling of the project and urged them not to relent on their efforts to see to the completion of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail project.