FG targets 2,000 construction equipment for timely completion of railway projects

The Federal government has disclosed that over 2,000 new equipment will be imported by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to enable seamless construction of the ongoing rail projects in the country.

Speaking during an inspection in Kano at the weekend, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said over 200 new equipment have so far arrived Nigerian seaport for the Kaduna-Kano rail project.

According to him, “the Chinese company have brought in About 417 new equipment, 200 of them are in the water while 200 of the equipment are at the seaport”.

Amaechi revealed that the measure to bring in enough equipment was to prevent the reoccurrence of unnecessary delay experienced during the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line a few years ago due to the breakdown of equipment.

“What we agreed on is this, CCECC must bring in 2,000 equipment to avoid what we suffered at the Lagos-Ibadan railway where the equipment were breaking down, the equipment were not enough and there was no replacement for the ones breaking down.

“But on this project, CCECC must buy all the equipment that they need, as the equipment are breaking down, the company is will be able to replace them and continue working without any delay,” he said.

Amaechi also expressed confidence that the Kaduna-Kano rail project will be delivered within the contract time frame.

“What we agreed is that, if we fund them, they must complete the work. They must do what we agreed upon. The conversation we had with them is that they must break this work into parts so that everybody will be working at the same time.

“If they do that I am sure that before May 2023 we will have commercial activity on the track.”

He further explained that the Kaduna-Kano rail “route will be used to convey both passengers and cargo. One of the most economic nerve centres in the country is Kano and Lagos, which is why this track is the most economically viable track.

“The economic activities that take place in Kano can be conveyed to Lagos viz a viz those who produce in Lagos can have their products conveyed to Kano. This will create jobs and reduce the cost of transportation,” he stated.

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