Western corridor rail line to complete in 36 months, says Amaechi

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Hon. Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

Nigeria’s rail line, which will cover the Western
corridor and traverse nine States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
spanning a total of 1,402 km will be completed in 36 months as soon as the loan
agreement is reached between Nigeria and china.

The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, disclosed this on Tuesday at the China-Africa Transportation
Convention Forum in Beijing, China, with the theme “Better Transportation,
Better World.”

The Minister said, “This rail line,
a total of 1,402Km which covers the Western corridor of Nigeria traverses nine
(9) states of our Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and is
expected to be completed within three (3) 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 said that the project would
serve as an important distribution corridor between the major sea port of Lagos
and the hinterlands.

He said that the Investment and partnership was
imperative in Nigeria’s cooperation with the Peoples Republic of China to
strengthen Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and contribute towards building a
competitive economy.

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

Amaechi added that the successful
realisation of the projects and their operations would result in attainment of
high level of intermodal transport system.

The Ministry of Transportation
recently signed the commercial contract for the remaining 901 Km 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 186.5Km

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

He said the project has been completed and commercial
train operation has 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
have 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 have shown keen interest in some
ventures and projects which include the 284Km 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 prioritization of
the project would meet the ultimate needs of industrialization and diversification
of Nigeria’s 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.