FG tasks contractor on completion of Lagos-Ibadan rail project

THE Federal Government has asked the China Civil Engineering ConstructionCompany (CCECC) to bring in more personnel and equipment to ensure that the Iju-Agbado section of the Lagos rail project is completed.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, speaking to the media in Abeokuta after inspection of the project, said the contractor’s argument was that it had issues excavating within that section as a result of lack of materials.

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He, however, said they (contractor) were done with that, leaving the earthwork to be completed.

Amaechi, who was visibly unhappy with the pace of work on that particular section of the project, lamented that “nothing has changed much since the last time we were here,”  adding that CCECC was not getting enough materials and personnel to do the job.

The Minister, who expressed optimism that the test-running of the project wouldstart in the next three weeks, pointed out that getting to Abeokuta you will see that there’s an improvement but the problem they have now is the civil work between Agbado and Iju, which is critical to me because I don’t think passengers will go to Agbado to board   train.

“I believe that the closer we are to Lagos the better for the rail and that is why I had to tell them to tell me what they will do about this before the next two weeks, although there’s a huge improvement up to this point. I want them to speed up the construction from Iju to Agbado.”

He said part of the solution to the congestion around Lagos sea port was  an efficient rail line.

“You can argue that the narrow gauge is there but it is not efficient. But the moment you fix this, then those goods will be transferred to the rail and then the logjam will disappear,” he added.

Amaechi noted that the moment the section from Iju to the sea port was completed,  most of the goods, especially the ones going to Ibadan would be on the rail lines.