FG commissions Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project

The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, commissioned the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project at the compound of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos.

Speaking during the official commissioning programme, Osinbajo stated that, “I am extremely pleased to be here for the commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano standard rail project.

“This signifies the fulfilment of promises by President Mohammedu Buhari to modernise the national rail system which he promised the nation. The President himself, in his January 2016 visit to China, reopened negotiation on the Chinese support for this project.

“Secondly, this ceremony also marks the commencement of our plan to move speedily to improve links between Lagos, which is the national economic nerve centre, and major ports, to other State capitals and towns across the country.

“Thirdly, our ground breaking today reflects the plan of the Federal Government to build a globally competitive economy with adequate infrastructure. The critical role of infrastructure is underscored by our economic recovery and growth plan as well as the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

“We made provisions for marching funds in the 2016 budget to complement concessional loans obtained from the Peoples Republic of China. Our appreciation goes to the Chinese government and the Chinese Exim bank who have always proved to be reliable partners to Nigeria.

“As some may be aware, we have the entire Lagos-Kano standard gauge track as well as the Lagos to Calabar railway tracks in the 2017 budget. Negotiation on the Kaduna-Kano portion of that is now completed, and this phase is next in line.

“We have already provided our portion of funding for the Lagos-Calabar route as well, and we expect that negotiation for the foreign component of the funding will be finalised in the next three months; and the Lagos-Calabar rail project will come on stream.

“An active and vibrant railway system concedes many benefits to the society. We are confident that the national rail project will create up to half a million jobs, and facilitate the movement of over 3.2million tons of cargo per annum. it will also reduce the burden on national highways, thus reducing degeneration of our road network.

“We expect a boost in economic activities along the railway lines, which will eventually cut across the entire country. To achieve this, the Federal Ministry of Transport has completed feasibility studies for up to 13 routes which has been identified for connecting State capitals and major commercial centres to the rail network.”

Speaking to the Tribune Online exclusively on the side-line of the commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail project, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajumobi stated that, “The commissioning of this project will make mass movement of goods and services from Lagos to Oyo State shorter. Oyo State is the number one beneficiary of this project because goods and services cannot get to the North without passing through Oyo. This is one major aspect of logistics.

“This commissioning will open up the economy of Oyo State. The volume of trade the trains can carry, no vehicle can carry it.

“Again, people can live in Ibadan and work in Lagos that is why I said Oyo State is the number one beneficiary of this project.

“We are also having what we call intra-city rail system in Oyo State. From where this one stops, we will be connecting to move Oyo commerce to the next level. We are talking of in the next 6 to 9 months.”