We’ll complete Western corridor rail line in 36 months —Minister

THE Federal Government has disclosed that it will take about 36 months to cover the Western corridor rail line of the country traversing nine states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, spanning a total of 1,402 kilometres.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, speaking at the China-African Transportation Forum in Beijing, said the project would  be completed in 36 months as soon as the loan agreement is reached between Nigeria and China

He said: ”This rail line, a total of 1,402 kilometres which covers the Western corridor of Nigeria, traverses nine states of our Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and is expected to be completed within three years if the expected loan agreement with China EXIM Bank for co-financing is reached as expected.”

Speaking on the Lagos – Kano railway project awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) and co-financed by China EXIM Bank, Amaechi revealed that the project would serve as an important distribution corridor between the major sea port of Lagos and the hinterlands, noting that “the investment and partnering is imperative in our cooperation with the Peoples Republic of China to strengthen Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and contribute towards building a competitive economy.”

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“Nigeria is also partnering with other private sector investors, foreign and domestic, including the consortium led by the United States General Electric.

“The successful realisation of these projects and their operations will result in attainment of high level of intermodal transport system,” he said.

The Ministry of Transportation recently signed the commercial contract for the remaining 901 kilometres Ibadan – Kano stretch and the associated branch lines from Oshogbo to Ado Ekiti, South West Nigeria following the completion of the first segment of the line, Abuja – Kaduna railway project of 186.5 kilometres.

Amaechi said that the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna project had tremendously improved citizens’ mobility between the important northern commercial city of Kaduna and the Federal Capital, Abuja.

He said the project had been completed and commercial train operation had commenced since July, 2016 conveying close to a million passengers.

While the construction of the second segment which is 162Km Lagos – Ibadan double track rail line is ongoing, Amaechi said that Nigerian government and other African governments had put effort at sourcing financiers for development of critical infrastructure especially its transport infrastructure – railways and ports.

“The Nigerian Government has liberalized the transportation sector, therefore admitting both private and institutional foreign and local investors to participate in the development and also develop legal framework and policies at reviving the railway sector,” he said.

The minister stated that key Chinese construction and financial entities had shown keen interest in some ventures and projects which included  the 284 kilometres Kano – Katsina – Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line, The Port Harcourt – Maiduguri standard gauge rail line, The Bonny Deep Sea Port, the Port Harcourt Industrial Park Project and others.

He said that the prioritisation of the project would meet the ultimate needs of industrialisation and diversification of our economy by serving as a backbone for a sustainable development and growth in mining, agriculture and Oil & Gas industries as well as improve citizen mobility.

He further noted that the platform of the ongoing convention would provide windows of opportunity where ideas and knowledge about management could be shared to achieve cheap, convenient and affordable intermodal transport system.