Rail system will serve as alternative to road transport, says National Assembly

Lawmakers at the National Assembly have commended the government for its revolutionary drive in railway sector as they hoped that the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line project would be commissioned in April 2020.

Besides, they said the rail system would serve as alternative to road transport when fully operational.

The joint committee on Land Transportation, which comprises of the upper and lower chambers at National Assembly during their legislative oversight functions and inspection on Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line, assured Nigerians of unflinching supports to the current administration.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Abdulfatai Buhari, who led the delegation on inspection from Lagos to Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, expressed satisfaction over the ongoing project.

Buhari, while addressing newsmen at the ongoing construction of Abeokuta train station at the weekend, said that the railway sector has justified the monies appropriated to them as enshrined in the 2019 budget.

The leader of the delegation said that the present administration had taken the transport sector as the major cardinal project and the committee was very happy with the job done so far at Lagos-Ibadan rail line project.

According to him: “The beauty of this project is that the train has been taking people freely from Lagos to Ibadan. This idea of free train rides is to ameliorate suffering of our people, especially during this festive period where our people would want to go home for Christmas or New Year celebration.

“We are looking at April 2020 for official commissioning of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line and as soon as possible, Ibadan-Kano axis will begin, the project that was initially pegged for three years had been achieved within two years, this is a reflection of good governance and better administration.

“Rail system is key in some developed countries like Singapore, America and people are not bothered about buying cars because it’s faster, cheaper, timing and affordable.

“This project was extended from Ebute Meta to Apapa and Tin Can seaport and by this time next year, we would be starting Eastern zone from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri, ” he added.

Buhari noted that the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line, Itakpe-Warri rail and completed Abuja-Kaduna projects had added values to transportation system in Nigeria but believed would add to economic development of the country upon completion.