Disclosing this to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, an impeccable source close to the Federal Ministry of Transportation explained that the right of way issues along the Lagos port route of the standard gauge rail project are not obstacles that can be removed without consequences to the nation’s economy.
According to the source who declined not to have his name in print as he is not authorised to speak on the issue, “Due to the very short period that is left for the project to be completed, that is the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project, the take-off point of the project may no longer be the Apapa port but Ebute-Metta because of obstacles that are tied to the nation’s economy along the Lagos port right of way.
“We are talking of pipeline e belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that carries both crude oil and gas. Yes there are water pipes too on the right of way towards the seaports, but the significance of those NNPC pipelines is just too enormous to the nation’s economy.
“Government has made its position clear to the contractor as regards the December completion deadline. Unfailing by January, 2019, Mr. President must ride in the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail, and with those seaport encumbrances, the contractor is already considering shelving linking the seaport to the standard gauge project for now. That might be done at a future date
“Due to this national encumbrances, Ebute-Metta is a readily option to Apapa as regards the standard guage rail line. However, the Apapa port will continue to feed on the narrow gauge rail line which is expected to be rehabilitated by the General Electric (GE).”
It would be recalled that the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, while inspecting the standard gauge rail project, mentioned Ebute-Metta or Apapa as the take-off point of the rail project.
In the word of the Honourable Minister, “We have told the contractor that they must complete the project by December 2018. The project must not go more than January 2019. We are looking at December 2018 and unfailingly January, 2019.
“However, we are having serious challenges of right of way, especially when approaching the Apapa seaports. We have water pipes, NNPC pipes that carry both crude oil and gas and others. It is not easy to remove these encumbrances, but we will try to find solution as we move on in the project, making sure we don’t exceed the deadline set.
“The task before us is to provide a speed train that will do a minimum of 260km per hour. We are expected to provide an express train that will take off from either Apapa or Ebutte-Metta to Ibadan through Abeokuta.”
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