• Says contractor to deliver stations in phases
• Commercial service no longer feasible in September
By Michael Olatunji
Nigerians should expect four new standard gauge projects from the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Minister for Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi has said.
Fielding questions at the Moniya Station after the completion of the inspection of the train stations on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge, Amaechi said as the Lagos-Ibadan projects winds up, Nigerians should expect four new speed train projects from the Federal Government within the next four years.
He listed the new projects as the Ibadan-Ilorin-Kano standard gauge, Katsina-Daura-Maradi-Jibia in Niger Republic, the Port-Harcourt-Onne-Warri and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail line.
He said besides the Ibadan-Ilorin-Kano, he has sent a proposal to his colleagues seeking the cabinet approval for the new rail projects, adding that these would be done based on funds availability.
Speaking on the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan speed train, Amaechi said though he had earlier directed the completion of all minor stations by September, the contractor had assured that the stations could only be completed in phases.
He said: “the contractor has assured us that only three minor stations could be completed in September ending, while another three would be completed by October ending, with the three major stations to be completed by December ending.”
Amaechi said though the contractor had argued that Apapa Station, may be a bit delayed because it was started late, he had given them up to December to complete Apapa along the major stations
“I had insisted that the project would be meaningless without Apapa Station. I had therefore directed that the set up a special task force to handle Apapa Station exclusively. The idea is to ensure that they would finish Apapa in December along with the major stations,” Amaechi said.
Meantime, the Nigerian Railway Corporation Managing Director Fidet Okhira has said September flag-off of commercial operation of the Lagos-Ibadan speed train may not be possible after all.
He said though the NRC is rearing to go, the contractor had expressed concern that everything ought to be in place before commencing commercial train service.
He said the NRC and CCECC are regularly reviewing the developments and will start commercial operation once the contractor gives it’s nod.
“Since we are proposing a commercial operation, we must be able to fulfill our commitment to time. If we promise them two hours we must be able to fulfill that and not begin to offer excuses that could cause delays because construction works are still going on along the track corridor”, Okhiria said.