New Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail will be ready in 2018 - Amaechi
- Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, inspected the ongoing rail projects at Ijoko community area of Ogun state
- The transportation minister said the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail services would be ready by December 2018
- Amaechi said the construction would bring economic development to the various communities
The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said that federal government would ensure the completion of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail services by December 2018.
Amaechi gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos while inspecting the ongoing rail projects at Ijoko community area of Ogun state.
The minister said that the federal government was making all efforts to ensure the completion of the project as scheduled.
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“I have made a personally decisions to come to Lagos to get briefing and update on the ongoing project.
“I have decided to come to the site monthly to put the company handling the project on their toes to ensure quick delivery of the project.
“The government is committed to deliver the projects on time for the benefit of the people at least by December 2018, Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail operation should commence,’’ he said.
Amaechi added that the only challenge facing the projects was the bridges across the rail lines.
The minister said that some of the bridges include Oshodi, Ikeja and the newly constructed Ijoko Bridge by Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, of Ogun state.
According to him, various means would be considered to determine the cheaper alternatives of moving the rail across the bridges due to its height and flow levels.
Amosun, earlier in his remarks, commended the federal government on the rail project, saying that the development would bring economic development to the various communities within both states.
The governor also hailed the minister’s efforts of constant inspections to ensure prompt delivery of the projects.
He said that Ogun state government had constructed about 90 per cent of federal roads within the state, saying that the federal government should consider refunding the state for the projects.
“I appealed to the federal government to consider the state to refund federal roads projects constructed by the state,’’ he said.
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In a previous report by Legit.ng, Amaechi had inspected of the Lagos - Ibadan railway modernization project with an extension to Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Lagos state.
The project which is expected to cost N458 billion and spans 156.65 kilometres was kicked off by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
The agreement between Nigeria and the CCECC for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Calabar-Port Harcourt rail lines was signed by the transport minister, last year.
Watch this video of Amaechi saying he is always busy on the street as a minister.
Source: Legit.ng
