By Ekaette Ibuot
The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said that the Federal Government will soon commence more rail line projects across the country in addition to the ongoing Lagos- Ibadan railway project.
Amaechi made this Known in Ibadan at the inspection tour of the Lagos- Ibadan rail line project.
Amaechi said the project will kick start once approval is gotten from the Federal Executive Council to commence construction of three major railway projects which include Kano- Maladi, Port-Harcourt -Maiduguri and Lagos-Calabar railway.
While assuring that the December deadline for the completion of the Lagos- Ibadan rail project remains sacrosanct as the project is gradually winding up considering the level of work done.
In addition, he said more engineers have been employed from China who will help in speedy completion of the project after observing self isolation
According to him; “We are also pursing the loan for the contract which has been awarded for the Lagos to Calabar.
” We also expect that ibadan to kano will commence before the end of this year.”
Speaking on the level of work done, he
expressed satisfaction, but charged the contractors to do more as time is of essence. He said that the project will be completed by December despite a compulsory break caused by the civic 19 pandemic.
On the completion he said; “They have given us the following target- end of September, three stations will be ready, end of October, all the minor stations will be ready, end of December, everything will be ready. They are still keeping to the target of December.
” The only one they are afraid of is Apapa station because they started very late. But l am insisting that Apapa should be completed at the same time as the rest and i have told them to set up a task force just for Apapa alone and i will come by end of September to see for myself how far they have gone,” he stated
Fielding questions from journalists on the recent train accident in Lagos that claimed one life, and the alleged attack on the Abuja bound train from Kaduna, the Minister expressed regret over the loss of life but cautioned that Nigerians must be made to respect the right of way for trains or be made to face the law.
He said that; “its unfortunate that there is a loss of life. The governor and I have agreed that lagosains know that the train track is not a market. when we start running, they need to give way to the track.
” It is not true that the train was attacked in Abuja. Leave this social media propagandists alone. Young boys threw stones at d train near kubwa and broke a glass and they stopped and arrested them. Why is it always the train was shot at and someone was injured. Why is it not someone died. No body is asking why the bullets only select wounds and not deaths. These are just mischief makers repeating the same story”.
