 |
| The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi |
The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr.
Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday took a historic trip on the Lagos-Ibadan standard
gauge rail line for about 50 minutes.
Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday took a historic trip on the Lagos-Ibadan standard
gauge rail line for about 50 minutes.
During his routine visit on Dec 4, Amaechi insisted
he had to ride a car on the tracks by December 18.
He embarked on the 36-km journey with members of
the House Committee on Land Transportation led by its chairman, Abdulmumin
Jibrin, top officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, top management
of the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC), officials of the Federal Ministry of
Works, the CCECC and a consortium of the Federal Government engineers and consultants.
the House Committee on Land Transportation led by its chairman, Abdulmumin
Jibrin, top officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, top management
of the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC), officials of the Federal Ministry of
Works, the CCECC and a consortium of the Federal Government engineers and consultants.
Amaechi expressed his rediness to invite Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo and other members of the Federal Executive to ride on
the tracks by first week of January.
President Yemi Osinbajo and other members of the Federal Executive to ride on
the tracks by first week of January.
He dedicated the success of the project to the
media, who according to him, defied the sun or rain to stay on the project since
it started in June 2017.
media, who according to him, defied the sun or rain to stay on the project since
it started in June 2017.
He commended the contractor for bringing the
project to fruition within 18 months, while challenging local engineers to rise
to the occasion and salvage the nation from the clutches of foreign domination.
project to fruition within 18 months, while challenging local engineers to rise
to the occasion and salvage the nation from the clutches of foreign domination.
Amaechi said: “While praising the Chinese for their
engineering prowess, which has turned a rain forest into an emerging city, our
engineers must see this as a challenge and save Nigeria from the clutches of
foreign domination in the area of construction.”
engineering prowess, which has turned a rain forest into an emerging city, our
engineers must see this as a challenge and save Nigeria from the clutches of
foreign domination in the area of construction.”
He added that: “This project is nearing completion. Right now,work has advanced and we are six kilometers away from Abeokuta.
“The contractors have assured me that we would be
able to ride from Iju in Lagos to Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, by the first
week of January 2019.
able to ride from Iju in Lagos to Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, by the first
week of January 2019.
“The idea is to bring the Vice President and some ministers
to join in the ride.”
to join in the ride.”
He said that once the track is flagged-off, the
route would be opened for passenger traffic, while efforts would be doubled to
ensure the standard gauge is taken to Ibadan.
route would be opened for passenger traffic, while efforts would be doubled to
ensure the standard gauge is taken to Ibadan.
The minister said work would begin on the
construction of stations immediately the project gets to Ibadan.
construction of stations immediately the project gets to Ibadan.
The Nation.
