Africa-Press Nigeria:
The Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge will be President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year gift to Nigerians, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has stated.
Amaechi said no stone would be left unturned to ensure to deliver the train by January 1, 2021.
The Minister spoke at Moniya station, in Ibadan, after conducting top members of the ministry, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation on an assessment of the project being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Amaechi, who expressed satisfaction at the pace of work, said with what he has seen, it is clear that the contractor is ready to deliver on the $1.7 billion projects on schedule.
According to him, but for the slow pace of work at two of the seven minor stations, he is satisfied that the stations will be ready on schedule, for commercial activity to start as soon as possible.
Amaechi also approved the commencement of commercial activity on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge.
He said: “It is important to say that we are ready to commence service on this standard gauge line before the festive season, but it will no longer be free.”
He however did not announce any fare regime saying the Corporation would come up with a fare regime that is acceptable to all.
The Minister also charged officials of the ministry to ensure that they put in place safety measures necessary to forestall accidents on the sections of the rail line that crossed residential and commercial centres.
Amaechi stated it would be wrong to hold the Lagos or Ogun state governments responsible for accidents that would have been prevented if the ministry had put in place the necessary safety measures.
