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FG to embark on massive rail projects – Idris Umar

By on September 11, 2011

The Federal Government has concluded plans to embark  on  massive rail projects, including linking of the nation’s seaports and airports with rail services.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar disclosed this   on the occasion of the  commemoration of the First 100 Days of President Goodluck Jonathan in office.

Umar  said that part of the plan is to  rehabilitate the old  Narrow Gauge to run simultaneously with the newly constructed Standard Gauge.

He said that  government has already  completed the rehabilitation of the old narrow gauge  covering 488 kilometres from Lagos – Jebba,   expressing optimism that the  phase 2 part of the project will be completed by the end of November this year.

According to him, “ this will make it possible  to move from Lagos to Kano by rail and  reduce the pressure on our roads and elongate the life span of our road network”.

Umar disclosed that part of the   project includes  the development of mass transit rail services spread across the six geo-political zones in the country.

He also added that intra-city transit services are currently operational in some  cities, including Lagos, Kaduna, Ilorin and Kano.

The Minister also disclosed that    the federal government is  working on developing new rail lines  with the involvement of  private sector through  Public Private Partnership arrangement.
According to him,  the Ministry  of Transport will ensure that the    seaports and airports were linked  with rail services as a way of improving  transportation system  in the country.

He also  identified   the East-West, Coast line   and highspeed linking  covering  Lagos, Ibadan, Benin-Onitsha – Enugu; Benin-Warri- Yenagoa, P’Harcourt-Uyo-Calabar; Lagos and Abuja, as top on the agenda of government.

Phase one of the modernisation project,  the  Minister said,   entails the  introduction of    a standard gauge rail  system   to link  the major cities  in Nigeria.

“In this regard, I am happy to report that work has started  on the first leg of the project which runs  from Abuja to Kaduna. This project is being handled by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC).”, he said.

He said that the contractor has assured of  completing the project  within 36 months as contained in the contract agreement.

Umar also disclosed that   the project  employs over 2000 Nigerians and  expected to   employ 5000 Nigerians   on completion.
Similarly, he disclosed that the Ajaokuta –Warri Rail Line ,  and  construction of new stations   was at advanced stage.

Thisday

2 Comments

  1. P. T

    September 11, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Good news. Thank you mr. Idris Umar. A nation will develop, when it’s leaders decide to develope it.

  2. Engineer Herbert

    September 12, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Na today we dey  see hausa man with bow & arrow ? how many animal dem don shoot.

    All this na lip service. Why dem no start the Rail from Lagos to Ogoja. i.e. through  ikorodu-sagamu-ijebu’s-Ore-okada-Benin-Agor-Asaba-Onisha-Enugu-Abakiliki-Yahe-Ogoja and even link the northern mountains of Obudu Resort.

    This route is the economics life line of the Southern part of the country, which have been over looked for years by previous law makers, who prefers
    Millions
    in furniture  allowance.

    The question is how many more productive people’s lives should be lost by incessant Plane and Road Disasters?  ” Kachikwo “.

    Ur’s  Al