Lagos-Ibadan Double Rail Track Begins Soon

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar

The federal government yesterday assured Nigerians that the contractor handling the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge double rail track would soon commence actions on the projects.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who disclosed this in Abuja while inaugurating the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said government is equally working to ensure that the rehabilitation of the railway line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is completed this year

According to the minister: “The Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation has a great task to perform, especially at this moment when government is poised to reposition the railway to play a pivotal role in the transport sector as a significant plank of the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President.”

He said in this regard, government is vigorously pursuing the resuscitation and revitalisation of the Nigerian Railway System in line with the 25 Year Railway Strategic Vision containing milestones for future development.

“The vision is being implemented in three phases namely; System Transition, System Modernisation and System Stabilisation. In the implementation process, a systematic dual approach is adopted entailing the rehabilitation of the entire existing narrow gauge line simultaneously with development of the standard gauge lines.

“As you are aware, Nigerians have already started reaping the benefits of the efforts of the federal government in revamping the railway system as evidenced in the commencement of full train services from Lagos to Kano.

“This is a great feat achieved after more than two decades of comatose. We are equally working to ensure that the rehabilitation of the railway line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is completed this year. Under the modernisation phase, the construction of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri and  Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Line are in progress and are expected to be completed and commissioned by next year. The construction of Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Double Track would soon commence following the
award of the contract by the federal government,” Umar stated.


Source: This Day