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We completed Abuja-Kaduna rail project in one year, says Odigie-Oyegun

By Chuka Odittah, Abuja
22 July 2016   |   3:38 am
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government successfully completed the Abuja-Kaduna railway project in just one year.
The National Chairman, of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

The National Chairman, of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government successfully completed the Abuja-Kaduna railway project in just one year.

The APC chief made the disclosure when he and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) took a test ride on the train from Kubwa to Jere.
He said the project’s speedy completion was achieved within this period, despite attempts by past governments to break the jinx since 2006 when it was first muted.

The chairman explained that thoughj the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan commenced funding of the project, it had however been on the drawing board for a longer time.

The test ride by APC’s big wigs, was to prepare the grounds for its official launch by President Mohammed Buhari on July 26.According to him, the project was successfully prosecuted because of the keen interest of the president, as well as the diligence of Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

“We are here to demonstrate that government is keen on development of key infrastructure in the country.This particular rail project has been a major concern to the government. The last administration contributed, but they probably didn’t have the competence to complete it,” he said.

On plans to pick passengers from the city center to Idu train station for boarding, the transport minister said efforts are on to organise temporary shuttle systems, pending when the Abuja Light Rail would be completed.The light rail is expected to convey passengers from various parts of the city, such as Mararaba, Kubwa,Gwagwalada and others.

He explained that when completed, it would go a long way in complementing the usefulness of rail transportation, adding the aim is also to support growth of the economy.Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria, told The Guardian that the train engines are diesel-driven.

He added that they would operate at an average of 150-60 kilometers per hour, depending on the convenience and safety judgement of the driver.Okhiria assured that adequate measures were being put in place to ensure that the corporation acquires more coaches to conveniently convey larger number of commuters.He said the project is also expected to open many employment and business opportunities.

59 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    In one year, great. But are there any other projects that have been completed by this government in one year? We want to praise you more, o Leader!

  • Author’s gravatar

    Looolz… for ur 4yrs and probably 8yrs u will keep executing d clueless GEJ projects.

  • Author’s gravatar

    U guys did nothing! That train and stations were built by GEJ. Liars. He even rode the trains before he left.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Not entirely true. Project started when GEJ was Bayelsa deputy Governor

      • Author’s gravatar

        Not true. It was all on paper. He built it from scratch and finished it. I have a friend who was part of the construction and had the privilege of following it step by step complete with videos and pictures. A lot of lies were told during elections. Just like any other president, let’s give this man his credit and look forward to other projects from this administration.

        • Author’s gravatar

          what if this government had abandoned it like Wike is during, so that Ameachi can not claim the project has his.

          • Author’s gravatar

            It was not abandoned. Goodluck rode that train before he left. I have ridden it too. He built the Idu train station, bridges and otheer infrastructure all the way to Kaduna. The man was just lied against for no other reason but to win elections.Propaganda has exposed them. GEJ deserves the full credit. Everyone knows this. Let Buhari build the next rail line in the south as a non-sectional president. We are waiting for him. No excuses again.

          • Author’s gravatar

            If you say he completed the project why didn’t he commission it. The then Minister of Transportation said it was 90% completed as at April 2015 and some more work needed to be done and that they needed funds. The new government through the Permanent Secretary said it was 85% and needed funding and that was released and the project completed. In Rivers state, we have the same situation, a light rail project almost completed but the new governor have refused to complete it. Had Buhari done the same, we would not be commissioning the project. He has also awarded the Kaduna to Kano, Lagos-Calabar and I think Lagos to Abuja.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Goodluck saw this project to the very end. Let us give him his due credit. I want Buhari to do the Lagos to Calabar. He will not. Mark my words. Having cancelled the Lagos rail 30 yrs ago, all I’m saying is that the last President was lied against that he did nothing. They are now about to commission 5 new airport terminal buildings across Nigeria. That is what loot has built. Without loot, let sectional Buhari build something, especially down south. Two years don dey reach!

          • Author’s gravatar

            If those renovations are what you guys call construction then we are in trouble. The MMA is an eye saw. It was commission but it is inferior to any major airport in africa. No one will need to commission that because it was used to steal money. It is the major reason the former government did not commission it.

          • Author’s gravatar

            MMA is an eyesore because a government that has been in power for almost 2 yrs has refused to maintain it! What? Goodluck will come back and do that for you? I visited Abuja suburbs recently, trash is everywhere. They will call Goodluck too? The only project started and finished by this administration is a helipad in Daura! Someone finished brand new trains, airports, universities and he is being attacked. People are stealing pots of soup for God’s sake, this is 1984 all over again. Time to stop worshipping this one-eyed gorgon, tell him to get to work. His excuses are not tenable.

            Afterall, OBJ met oil price at $10 and only $3bn in foreign reserves. Buhari met it at over $50 and $31bn in foreign reserves. And the number one economy in Africa. He destroyed it all including our currency. Let us help him out by telling him the truth.

          • Author’s gravatar

            I have not been there since this government came in. It was reconstructed by GEJ just less than 2 years ago and the ac’c replaced but you can’t say that for the last time i visited. If you accuse me of worshiping someone, you are guilty of same. Where are the universities you say jonathan created. Nothing are on them, they are operating from temporal structures inherited. How would our currency not lose value when we depended solely on oil. We should have longed moved on when we were getting so much from that product. We will feel the pains today and enjoy tomorrow when we reduce our dependent on foreign product.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Excuses for everthing! The buck no longer stops at the president’s table. Lol. I have my answer.

          • Author’s gravatar

            I do not why you have time for them. the time will come when his suite will be shredded for his lies

          • Author’s gravatar

            We complaint when he was in power and the reason he lost the election.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Well if these he has awarded are completed in one year we will begin to take what this government says with more than a pinch of salt. I suppose they take us all as idiots which unfortunately is the case as some of the comments on this forum show.

          • Author’s gravatar

            or even the Abuja light rail connection

        • Author’s gravatar

          OK get factual who is your mysterious friend, when did the project start? Details of the budgetary allocation ? Tender details and payment sums against dates? Video.
          Otherwise, not entirely true.

  • Author’s gravatar

    This old fool is claiming another man’s legacy as his project? Why are we so untruthful in this Nigeria? How can you say you completed this (3-4yr) project in ONE Year? Why don’t you give kudos to the man, who did 95% of the job? Useless fools.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Do you have any Old man in your family ? I do not know which side you are from but from our side people likeep you are said not to have accepted home training. Whatever civilisation might have come to how dare you call someone “Old Fool” you judge yourself by saying OLD. don’t you have some respect left in your wallet for elders? You can do better by apologizin do not let politics distroy your sence of reasoning.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Oyegun is a disgrace

  • Author’s gravatar

    These people truly have no shame and they sure were amongst those who berated Mrs Trump for plagiarism. Yet here they are telling glaring lies and claiming another man’s legacy as their own and still insulting him on top. I live in kaduna and over the years I have followed the progress on this rail project. This is 100% GEJ project with zilch contribution from the APC gang stars. For avoidance of doubt fellow Nigerians, let’s see which other rail project they are able to start and finish in the next one year since senile Oyegun claims the GEJ administration lacked the competence to complete this kaduna-Abuja rail line. Kaduna to Abuja is just about 170km, about the same distance as Abuja to Lokoja. So let them take that up and complete it in one year like they claim to have done. Lying bastards!!! They will also claim the glory for the Abuja monorail. Amaechi that “spent” N50 billion and could not complete 1km of monorail in Port Harcourt.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Please where in the report did Oyegun say GEJ “lacked the competence to complete the project?” All he said whilst mentioning Gej’s name was the fact that he (GEJ) commenced the funding i.e. someone conceived the idea (in 2006) but he commenced the funding. Are these statements of fact or mere fallacies? Completion is different from start or begin…Oyegun never said PMB started the project…He said he completed it within a year despite it (project) being on the table for so long…did he lie? Lets be dispassionate about issues and address facts and stop fanning the embers of disunity and projecting untruths or half-truths. God help us..

  • Author’s gravatar

    APC – where old men will lie in the presence of their kids.

  • Author’s gravatar
  • Author’s gravatar

    Ole. Na wa o. So APC has defended this low. Anyway I no blame them. They can’t even tell the truth anymore. That’s why that Iya Agonyi minster of finance says that the country is technically in recession. What’s the difference between technically in recession and recession itself.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Technically is a favoured term. Like Boko Haram technically defeated. the war on corruption technically won. Abuja to Kaduna rail project technically completed by Buhari in 1 year. Handover notes on rail project still being studied carefully by Buhari to see if any corruption involved ! Abeg.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Sensational headline and misquotation. Reading the full article and comprehending the statements attributed to the Chairman, it’s clear that he never made such a statement. His statement was a political one but never as stated by the mischievous journalist. We need to be more secumspect and willing to read articles in its entirety before casting aspersions.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Yes he said the truth they actaully completed it in one year, GEJ started it but they completed it, understand the grammar

    • Author’s gravatar

      The project started in 2006… when GEJ was still Governor of Bayelsa State. However, credit must be given by successive governments, including GEJ for not abandoning the project.

      • Author’s gravatar

        But he gave credit read the news, he said, the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan commenced funding of the project, it had however been on the drawing board for a longer time. So for mention his name means that he acknowledged the fact that GEJ was involved. At least the project was never abandoned. But they were able to complete it. What of Wike that abandoned Amaechis mono rail project, what will you say about it.

        • Author’s gravatar

          I support the fact that GEj is being remembered for the work done. What I meant is that both OBJ who started the work in 2006 and Yar’Adua who also did some part of it should be remembered too. A lot of people just think that GEJ started and finished the project.

        • Author’s gravatar

          Maybe you were the only one in this forum who understood the statement of Oyegun. Why not read what Oyegun said as I quote him here?

          “He said the project’s speedy completion was achieved within this period, despite attempts by past governments to break the jinx since 2006 when it was first muted”.

          “The chairman explained that though the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan commenced funding of the project, it had however been on the drawing board for a longer time”

          What can you make out from these statements of Oyegun? What do you understand when it is said that someone is jinxed? What is the meaning of jinx? What do you understand when it is said that something has been on the drawing board for a long time?

          Please wake up and condemn what is condemnable. Oyegun goofed by what he said here. What is the amount of input Buhari put into the completion of this project? What other projects have this administration been able to completion under one year? When did Buhari start working? When did Amaechi assume office and started working?
          .

      • Author’s gravatar

        That is a true statement of facts. barefaced lying by an elder is doubly embarrassing. I would advice that they leave all the lying to Lai who has become an object of public ridicule.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Double speak is an art

  • Author’s gravatar

    oyegun…your nose is growing longer…

  • Author’s gravatar

    Complete Old Rogue!
    This Project is a GEJ project from the day they started work till today that these useless fools are now riding in the trains.
    Idi@ts!

  • Author’s gravatar

    How is this huge investment going to be managed?
    I do hope Nigerians would insist service be delivered adequately and market forces pay over a long time the cost of this project.
    Otherwise if left to government this would most likely turn into a conduit pipe to rip the public.

  • Author’s gravatar

    There is no Honest Politician in Nigeria today ? talk is cheap, all those useless old bullshit, nowhere in the WORLD any RIAL PROJECTS with such a complicated route can be completed within One yeah, Useless old man , you are fooling yourself , even Minister of Transport didnt say that during his news conference, Mr, Liar .

  • Author’s gravatar

    Liars at work! Every Nigerian knows that Buhari made no input whatsoever into the completion if the railway line.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Abuja-Kaduna rail project was initiated and completed by Jonathan’s administration for God sake. where are these people from? did we all saw Amechi inspecting the project during his first month in office? only fools will believe this!!!

    • Author’s gravatar

      Read the article again. The project was initiated in 2006. Then GEJ was governor of Bayelsa state while OBJ was president.

    • Author’s gravatar

      It was initiated by OBJ, contract awarded by OBJ, it started during GEJ’s acting Presidency and was 85% completed when he left office. They had not finished the rail line to Kaduna and had not constructed the train stations when they left office. It was this government that completed the project and paid for the coaches to be used for the project.

      • Author’s gravatar

        From which budgetary head of expenditure. I guess they are magicians ?

        • Author’s gravatar

          PMB has implemented 2015 budget, and also implementing the 2016 budget. Have you checked both? If GEJ completed the project in 2014, why didn’t he put it to use bfor leaving?

        • Author’s gravatar

          Check the agreement with china, it is there. It was renegotiated by Yar adua and work began. The rail line was completed in 2014 but other aspect were abandoned because funds had been diverted about 450mUSD. It was paid and work recommenced. The project is being extended to Kano while both the Lagos-Abuja and the Lagos – Calabar is commencing.

  • Author’s gravatar

    The comments of Oyegun is a disgrace to his age.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Are we sure that the track is of 21st century standard or has the money been wasted? Mr. John Odigie-Oyegun did not understand what he is saying. He does not know the technical and engineering problems involved in building rail.

  • Author’s gravatar

    How can people lie at this age? No wonder Niegria is like this.

  • Author’s gravatar

    APC can conveniently finished this project in one year, but cannot add even 1 megawatt in one year. OLE!

  • Author’s gravatar

    The naira fell to 378 against the dollar in one year! Another reputable milestone ehhh!

  • Author’s gravatar

    They are bunch of thieves and senile people, they can as well start claiming glory for other peoples work, Association of Present Criminals (APC)

  • Author’s gravatar

    BUNCH OF LIARS, SINCE YOU TOOK OVER GOVERNMENT HAVE YOU RELEASED CAPITAL FUNDS FOR PROJECTS IF NOT LAST WEEK? IT WAS EVEN LESS THAN THE 350BN YOU ANNOUNCED TO NIGERIANS SINCE APRIL 2016.
    THE RAIL PROJECT WAS COMPLETED PAID FOR AND COMPLETED DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
    APC STOP LYING. NIGERIANS ARE TIRED OF YOUR LIES.