Federal Government urges completion of Lagos-Ibadan gauge rail by December

•Tasks Chinese firm on indigenous employment

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has reaffirmed that the 156.65 kilometres Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project would be completed by December.

Amaechi, who disclosed this yesterday, said upon completion, the contractors would hand it over to Nigeria for maintenance.

The China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) is executing the project, which starts from Lagos, through Ogun to Oyo states.

The minister charged the company to employ and train qualified Nigerian civil engineers, who would take over the maintenance of the project.

“I must see Nigerian professional civil engineers with their certificates when next I come here. You should train and equip them because you would leave after the project’s completion.

The minister held a three-hour closed door meeting with management of the Chinese firm and the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

He said: “I am not impressed about the laying of the tracks, because we agreed on 11 kilometers, but you have built only three.

They firm promised to lay 10 more tracks to bring the number to 13 by July 23, when they would hold the next meeting.

It explained that the slow speed was due to constant rainfall, adding that they were managing the situation until dry the season comes.

Amaechi said he was impressed with the level of cooperation by the water cooperation, and the technical committee put in place to identify the problems.

On the NNPC gas pipeline, the minister said the committee had also done well, as it was able to find solution to its challenges, unlike in previous experience.

He said the Federal Government was committed to sustainable better living, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari was worried about the high cost of moving goods by roads across the country.