The Federal Government remains committed to liking the rail systems to the ports, the Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said.
Speaking on a nationwide television on Monday, Amaechi said this is the only addendum the President Muhammadu Buhari administration made to the Rail transportation 25 year-Masterplan which it inherited from the previous governments.
According to him, while the Lagos –Ibadan Standard gauge will now terminate at the Lagos Wharf, the Itakpe-Ajaokuta, which originally terminates at Agbor has now been extended to Warri, with the approval of a deep sea port in Warri, while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail line being proposed by the administration will link the Warri, Calabar and Port Harcourt Ports.
He further disclosed that the administration is working at linking the rail network to the Tin Can and the RORO Ports in Apapa, while linking the rail network to the new Lekki Deep Sea port will likely be a future agenda for the government.
Amaechi disclosed that the Buhari administration will begin work on the $5.8 billion (about N2.8 trillion) Ibadan to Kano once the Federal Government acquires the loan for the project.
The Minister disclosed the Buhari administration is also committed to begin soon, work on the Eastern line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, adding that if that is done, the administration would have recorded a milestone of linking all state capitals to the speed train network.
Shedding more light on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge, Amaechi said the contractor, contrary to its earlier work schedule is yet to deliver on the four major station on the route, located at Apapa, Ebute-Metta, Abeokuta and Ibadan, adding that of the nine minor stations, only that of Kajola, which was the model is nearing completion.
Amaechi also lamented the negative impact of ports congestion to the projections, adding that equipments which had landed within the nation’s waters since December is yet to berth as a result of the congestion.
The Minister said one of the key lessons for the administration is to use the projects to boost local economy and promote local manufacturers.
“We are determined for instance to ensure that the contractor gets about 80 percent of their local content on the Ibadan – Kano construction in Nigeria. We should not allow them to go back to their country with the N2 trillion size of that project. So what we are determined to do is to encourage manufacturers of roofing sheets, nails, aluminum doors and windows to start production in order for them to produce products that would meet international standard.”
Also speaking on the challenges besetting getting the national transportation policy passed by the National Assembly, Amaechi said he has directed that the section plaguing the passage of the bill be expunged so that the administration can achieve bequeathing a Transportation policy for the country.
He said when the bill is finally passed by the National Assembly and approved by the President, it would be easy for the states of the federation to key into it and domesticate in their respective states. Amaechis disclosed that the Oyo State Governor Engr Seyi Makinde has already approached the Ministry and the Nigeria Railway Corporation to assist in developing a robust intra-city train service in Ibadan and environs.