But the completion of one of such rail projects — the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail estimated to cost $1.5 billion — is threatened with some many challenges which may hamper the December completion date.
Explaining the enormity of the challenges, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said that the rail project had about 43 kilometres of water pipes to be replaced.
Amaechi further said that some bridges in the course of the proposed rail line within Lagos would be removed, noting that the ministry had got the right of way.
“We have the sewage to deal with, we have bridges to demolish and rebuild, we have an army barracks to relocate and we have gas pipelines to relocate and other challenges.
“However, we are discussing with the Lagos State government on how to deal with these challenges.
“There is no way you can do construction without challenges in different forms and kinds and you have to address them,’’ he said.
The minister said that the Nigerian Army had agreed to relocate and to give the Federal Government a land where the barracks would be relocated.
He added that the ministry was working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to resolve the issue with the gas pipelines, stating that he was impressed with the speed of work.
He said that more than 111 kilometres of right of way had been established along the corridor and more than N10 billion had already been paid as compensation.
Speaking on the benefits of the project, the minister said the rail line, when completed, would promote economic growth and create job opportunities for many Nigerian youths.
“The project is worth the stress, the volume of business it will attract will pay for the money spent.
“As soon as we start laying tracks, all the land in that area will go because companies will want to take possession of the land and do business in that area because of the readily available transportation.
“That will create jobs which will grow the economy and that will surpass the $1.5 billion we are investing,’’ he said.
Also, Dr Aminu Yusuf, the former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Transport and Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, said that no matter the challenges on the project and the financial implications in resolving them, the future achievement would be numerous.
“Rail transport if fully developed along this corridor, economic activities will begin to spring up, transport will become cheaper, agriculture will become better practice, industry will spring up and it will be managed properly.
“If the rail is linked to the port, import will be better, export will be better, even transportation of cement, petroleum and agricultural products across the northern and southern parts of the country will be more efficient which will grow the economy.”
According to him, with an efficient and effective rail system, Nigeria roads will last longer and the money spent on road rehabilitation will reduce.
He said that Nigeria’s investment in railway could not be compared with countries such as Ethiopia, Senegal and Singapore, observing that in terms of cost, Nigeria was not extravagant.
In his view, Mr Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, said the challenges confronting the Lagos-Ibadan rail line had been technically resolved.
“The work is progressing, by this month they will start laying tracks, the team will be going there by the end of the month to see the tracks.
“From Papalanto down, there is no more issues apart from Abeokuta area which have been resolved, we have moved to where we have less houses to locate the stations,’’ Okhiria said.
He said that the project, when completed, would attract more social and economic development to the communities and major towns along the axis.
Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, also said that railway project had become a success story for the country.
He said with the rail lines linking the ports, it would enhance service delivery and increase the smooth transportation of cargoes.
Courtesy: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
and then