From Olu Adeyinka
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will next week flag off two-months free train ride on the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor.
After the flag off, passengers will enjoy two-months free training ride from Lagos to Abeokuta.
Speaking in Lagos during the inspection of the rail project, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the first phase (Lagos-Abeokuta) will reduce travel time by 45 minutes.
The Minister also disclosed that the corridor which is over 60 percent completed will start operation with four coaches.
The Minister also hinted that the Ibadan-Kano rail line will commence by June after the government concludes it’s negotiation with the Chinese.
He said: “I am impressed and from what I see, the Vice President is going to ride on the train on the 6th except he has other arrangements. Once the Vice Presidents flags it off, we will start using it and it will be free. The free ride will be for two months.
“The Vice president is coming to flag off the passenger use of the first phase from Lagos to Abeokuta which will reduce passenger travel time from one hour thirty to 45 minutes and the reason why it is 45 minutes is because people might stop in different locations.”
On the number of coaches that will be used on the corridor, Amaechi said: “We presently have two coaches on this corridor but we know they won’t be enough. So, we have directed that they should go and get more coaches from Itakpe-Warri since the passenger traffic on that corridor is not as high as what we expect here. So, we are expecting two more coaches.”
On the likely completion date of Abeokuta to Ibadan axis, he said: “If not for the election, if we push them further, I think they will deliver in two months. Immediately after the election, I will come back and push them
“From what they told me, they think it will be quicker because the problem is always the civil work and they have gone far with it.
“The only problem they have is that they have to blast rocks and that they are doing now to make sure that before the end of June, it will be ready. What will be the problem will not be the tracks but the stations and the communication systems.”
On how far the Federal Government has gone with the negotiation for the Ibadan to Kano corridor, he said: ” We have written and there might be need to go to China to see how far we will go with the negotiation. The loan was supposed to be about $8b but they told us to concentrate on single track. If it is single track, then we are asking for $6 billion.”
He expressed optimism that if the negotiation goes well, construction work will begin by June from Ibadan to Kano.