Minister Amaechi arrives Lagos, meets with Ambode
- Rotimi Amaechi reveals that contractors for the Lagos-Ibadan rail project would commence work
- Amaechi believes that the rail project, when completed, will reduce the perennial traffic challenge on roads in Lagos
- Governor Ambode commends President Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for embarking on some projects in Lagos
Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s transport minister, has visited Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, revealing that work on the Apapa corridor of the “Lagos-Ibadan rail” project would commence next week.
Legit.ng learnt that Amaechi spoke to journalists after a strategic meeting with the Ambode and his team at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, saying it was gratifying to report that contractors would move to site to continue the rail project from Apapa as part of efforts to bring about a permanent solution to the perennial traffic gridlock in the axis.
“You would recall that the federal government had commenced construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the focus was more on the Ibadan and Abeokuta axis because we had challenges in Lagos which included utilities and not much with the communities and I think I have to commend the communities that allow us use their land though we would pay compensation but not much. So, we are grateful to all the communities from Lagos to Ibadan.
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“However, we have utility challenges both gas pipes and water and beyond the gas pipes, we also have challenges with bridges to either build or demolish. I remember when we said we wanted to demolish the Costain bridge, everybody screamed and we had to invite the Lagos governor to assist us; he took us there and promised that he would pay the compensation.
“I like the fact that the Lagos state government are also contributing to this whole efforts and so what we have come here to do is to ensure that there is a win-win situation and the Lagos governor has been very cooperative.
“He cooperated all the way from the beginning till now and what we have decided is that CCECC should therefore move back to Lagos for construction to commence immediately in Lagos because we are insisting that by December, we should complete the Lagos-Ibadan railway,” Amaechi said.
The minister further said that in addition to the rail projects, the federal government was also working on the roads. He said that the combination of the projects would facilitate seamless movement of cargos from Apapa.
“What we are trying to do there is to get a good road to evacuate cargos but it would be faster with the rail. So, while we are working hard to ensure that the rail is delivered by this year ending, the federal government has also awarded the contract to deal with the road from Apapa and Tin Can to enable us to evacuate cargos freely which is an addition to the rail,” Amaechi said.
In his response, Governor Ambode lauded the action of the federal government to commence work on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project from the Apapa axis, expressing optimism that the development would go a long way to enhance movement of cargos from Lagos to other parts of the country.
“Lagosians would recollect that in the last three weeks, we have had issues with the Apapa gridlock and two times, Mr Vice President had actually visited Lagos and promised that a lot of remedies would take place.
“We want to use this platform to say a big thank you to Mr President and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving the reconstruction of the Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to the Toll Gate which was done yesterday. This is in continuation of our efforts at finding permanent solutions to what has been happening in the Apapa axis.
“We also want to say a big thank you to the Minister of Transport and Minister of Works because the rail construction that is coming up and will commence in Lagos from next week is actually from the Apapa Ports up to the Ibadan axis which means that we are having a two-pronged approach to be able to cart away cargos from Lagos to other parts of the country,” Governor Ambode said.
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Ambode further commended the federal government for approving the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway as part of efforts to finding lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock around the axis.
He specially thanked President Muhammadu Buhari; vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and others for their commitment to end the sufferings of the people in the state.
Legit.ng earlier reported how in a Twitter post published on Thursday, July 12, by Lauretta Onochie, the social media aide to the presidency, Muhammadu Buhari was honoured with the task of commissioning the Abuja light railway project.
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Source: Legit.ng
