Apapa rail track construction to take six months, says Amaechi

• Seeks continued support of communities on Lagos-Ibadan corridors
• Orders arrest of buyers of vandalised rail equipment

The Federal Government has said that it will take another six months to complete laying of tracks into the Apapa terminal stations.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this at the weekend, during the monthly inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, said that in the next one month, track laying into the seaport would be completed but what would remain is the major rail-line that leads to key places, which would take another four to six months

He said he was not deterred by the delay as the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that they start moving cargoes from the seaport to Ibadan via the railway, disclosing that temporarily, cargoes would be transported from the APMT to the railway from where it would be moved to the Ibadan Dry Seaport.

He further disclosed that pending clearance from the office the President, the ministry had fixed June for the commissioning of the Lagos Ibadan railway project.

Reacting to the vandalism of rail infrastructure by criminal elements, the minister asked the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to go after and arrest buyers of vandalised rail track facilities and other equipment.

Amaechi said cases of vandalism existed because there were those who had indicated interest in the vandalised facilities. He also said the rate of vandalism would reduce if the judiciary dispenses justice without delay, adding that state governments should create more jobs.

MEANWHILE, the minister has urged residents and host communities along Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway corridor to support and co-operate with the NRC to facilitate smooth execution of the project.

Amaechi said the support received from the communities along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor had contributed to the progress of the work, which would likely be commissioned in June.

He said: “The Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway construction is between 89 per cent and 90 per cent completion for commissioning. We confirm that a lot of equipment in the infrastructural development is ready for commissioning.

“What we are waiting for approval from the office of the President to give a date for the commissioning which may likely be in June.”
The minister said that the Apapa rail track was nearing completion, adding that movement of cargo through the Apapa port would be realistic.