FG intensifies efforts to complete Lagos-Ibadan rail line

IN a bid to ensure the completion of 156.65 km Lagos-Ibadan rail line by ‎the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) before the end of 2018, the Federal government has intensity it’s supervision in order to entail timely completion of the project.

Speaking while inspecting the rail project in Ibadan on Thursday, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi noted that the laying of rail tracks has commenced while other environmental challenges confronting the project are being resolved.

According to him, “We have started the laying of the tracks, am I impressed with the laying of the tracks, the answer is no because we agreed on 13 kilometres in a month, they have only laid 3 tracks. They (CCECC) have apologized and said by the next meeting they would have done the remaining 10. The reason for the delay is rain, that is why they are trying to manage the situation till dry season will come. The main issue is how to manage the civil works and the situation.”

The Minister said he was impressed with the level of cooperation by the water cooperation and the committee “we have put in place to identify the problem, they are our heroes.

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“If‎ you can remember, we said we had a problem of 24-kilometre water shortage and the committee argued and said we cannot be sure until we go to the site and they went and discovered it was only two kilometres that was shorting and we directed CCECC to commence construction at the affected areas.”

On the challenge of gas pipeline along the right of way of the rail line, Amaechi said that the challenge has been settled, “that’s why we said the committee has done well and is not like before were all of them (pipelines) were to be removed, some of them are now protected and we are to remove the ones that are necessary.”

He stated that the Federal government was committed to connecting the country by rail. “Every Nigerian knows that FG is committed. The President is concerned that the cost of production and movement of goods including that of agriculture is resolved to the betterment of the society and the focus is everywhere in Nigeria” the Minister Concluded.