…As Oyo gov’t seeks land owners’ cooperation on acquisition of hectares for Ibadan Dry Port
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Russian firms for the modernisation and development of railway infrastructure, as Oyo State Government solicits the cooperation of land owners whose properties were earmarked for the new Ibadan Inland Dry Port to ensure project realization.
The MoU, according to Israel Ibeleme, the media aid to the Minister, on Thursday in Abuja covers the rehabilitation of existing Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) rolling stock-fleet and upgrading of workshops across the country.
The two Russian firms are Joint Stock Company Russian Railway (JSCRR) and Transmash Holding, a private rolling stock manufacturing company.
The agreement was signed with CEO-Chairman, Joint Stock Company Russian Railway, Mr Oleg Belozerov and the Chief Executive Officer Transmash holding, Mr Kirill Lipa during the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia.
The Minister said that signing the MoU would boost and fast track the construction of the rail manufacturing company in Nigeria, also noted that the Nigerian government gave the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) the nod to establish a rail manufacturing plant in the country.
The Minister reiterated that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to ensure the development of a standard rail infrastructure in line with best practices.
Amaechi also noted that before the end of December, Nigeria would receive 20 locomotives and wagons which would be used for the railway service on Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna and Itakpe-Warri rail line.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has solicited the cooperation of land owners whose properties were earmarked for the new Ibadan Inland Dry Port to ensure realisation of the project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new inland port and rail line project is to be sited on 300 hectares of land in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state
Mr Abdu-Raheem Abiodun, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, made the appeal on Thursday in Ibadan at a meeting with traditional rulers from the local government.
Abiodun, who pleaded with the monarchs to prevail on the inhabitants of the area not to scuttle the planned enumeration of original land owners, said that government had concluded arrangements to start the enumeration process.
He assured the traditional rulers that the government would adequately compensate the people for the land acquisition.
“The Seyi Makinde led government is ready to enumerate original land owners whose lands will be used for new Inland dry port as well as the rail line for development of the area.
“Once the government acquires the land, adequate compensation would be paid to the land owners and also farmers who cultivate on the land.
“This is a massive development for the area as socio-economic activities will be boosted because of the introduction of the Inland dry port as well as the rail line,” the commissioner said.
He said that 300 hectares of land would be used for the project and that due process would be followed in carrying out the exercise.
Earlier, Oba James Odeniran, the traditional ruler of Akinyele, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs, appealed the state government to resettle some villagers whose houses and farmlands would be affected by the dry port and rail line projects.
Odediran, however, expressed appreciation to the state government for bringing the dry port project to the area, saying that such would facilitate development to the area.