FG decries slow pace of work on Lagos-Ibadan railway

The Federal Government is not impressed by the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, as the minister of transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has lamented the slow pace of work.

From the look of things, the Federal Government may not meet up with the December deadline for the completion of the project.

Amaechi had often assured that the railway would be commissioned by December. But with one month to go, the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) is yet to begin laying of tracks, while none of the 10 stations expected to be constructed is standing.

Government was said to have paid its counterpart funding of 15 per cent to the construction firm.

Amaechi, during the ministry’s monthly inspection of the project in Lagos, expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work at the Lagos end of the project.

He said: “If I say I am impressed with CCECC on the Lagos angle of the project, I would be lying. The problem of water pipes, gas pipeline, sewage and other challenges, which hitherto was impeding progress of work, has been resolved.”

In a statement, the ministry’s deputy director of press and public relations, Mohammed Idris, lamented that CCECC had not made major progress in the last three months, particularly between Ebute-Metta and Apapa ports.

According to the minister, the Lagos end of the project is critical and any delay would affect the scheduled completion period of the project.

Ten stations will be constructed along Apapa, Lagos, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papàlanto, Abeokuta, Olodo, Omi-Adio and Ibadan corridor of the railway line.

Amaechi, however, commended the contractor for the appreciable level of progress achieved so far.

“You will agree with me that between Abeokuta and Lagos, and Abeokuta and Ibadan, CCECC has done fairly well,” he said.

On the December completion period, the minister advised Nigerians to be patient, as the Federal Government is committed to delivering the project in good time.