Osinbajo opens Lagos-Kano rail project, to create 500,000 jobs
• Saraki, Ambode, Amaechi, Ashafa, Akiolu task contractors
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday inaugurated the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan-Kano railway project, promising that it would be delivered on or before December 2018.
Osinbajo expressed optimism that the plan would overhaul the country’s economy, provide half a million jobs and support industrialisation agenda.
He said negotiations on the Kaduna-Kano section of the project had been completed, with government providing its part of the fund for the Lagos-Calabar route and expecting the completion of negotiations with the foreign partner in the next three months.
According to the acting president, “We are confident that the national rail project will create up to half a million jobs and facilitate the movement of over 3.2 million tons of cargo per annum. It will also reduce the burden on national highways, thus reducing deterioration of the road networks.”
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode maintained that the rail project would open up the economy of the south west, boost agriculture, as it would be easy to transport farm produce from the hinterland to the cities.
Ambode said that productive man-hours would no longer be wasted on roads when the rail project is completed.
Senate President Bukola Saraki lamented the collapse of the rail system in the country, pledging that the current administration would reverse the situation.
Represented by the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, he expressed optimism that the project would not be abandoned, promising that the Senate would see it to its completion.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the project, which would be extended to the Lagos Seaport complex in Apapa would significantly boost the import and export business.
Amaechi said the rail line would soon be extended to Ilorin, Minna, Kaduna and Kano in no time with a link to Abuja and Ekiti.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa advised Nigerian universities to immediately commence the training of rail infrastructure engineers to address skill shortfall in the sector.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu urged the Chinese contractor company to bring competent professionals to the country to be able to do a good job.
The monarch lambasted organisers of the event for starting two hours late.
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3 Comments
Thumbs up for Oba Akiolu. Let all of us be firm in condemning tardiness and the penchant to disregard the essence of time. Nigerians do not appreciate that time is money. Too bad.
Thank god for this rail project !!!!!! How many miles per hr speed? This is very important since it will be useless to be on the rail for 60 hours when you can do same under 2 hours with your car !!!!!!!! The devil is in the detail. Nigeria do not want any half baked PROJECT !!!!! where half of the money borrowed for the project end up in private pocket and Nigeria end up getting a disgraceful moribund 14th century product !!!!!! Go to Ethiopia and compare what they got for their money from the Chinese contractors who built their fast moving rail system !!!!!
To be completed on or before December 2018? A double track, standard gauge rail line and new construction? We are waiting to see this miracle take place!
We should stop kidding ourselves. The construction of the Idu/Abuja – Kaduna, 186km, took well over 4 years to be completed. Yes, the track is laid, tamped, service is operational. Even then, there are still some ancilliary activities still on-going as l write. for example, the fencing off the the running track is yet to commence.
Bottom line, the project completion duration is highly unrealistic. Mark my words, it can’t be done!
Anyway, kudos for the government for having the temerity for resucitating this project. First conceived by Baba OBJ in 2006, then reconceieved by the GEJ administration around about 2011, we are making the thrid attempt six years after. One just hopes that we aren’t being taking for another jolly ride by our government.
I still strongly are of the professional view that it’s completion date as set is way unrealistic. I stand to be corrected, however. Only time will tell.
We will review and take appropriate action.