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The Federal Government says the December 2018 set date for completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Speed Rail Project remains sacrosanct.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this on Tuesday during a joint inspection of the 158 kilometers stretch standard gauge rail project site in Papalanto, in Ogun state, accompanied by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The Ministers who had a closed door meeting with the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), the consultants and other stakeholders at the end of their meeting said the date is achievable due to the extent of work already attained.
“On today’s meeting, what we have achieved is that the December date for the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge is non- negotiable.
“I am happy to say that both the contractors and consultants have promised their commitments to meet the deadline.
“The challenges raised are surmountable and these are what we reviewed in the meeting,’’ he said.
The Minister noted that as part of the flagship projects of the Buhari administration, the Federal government would leave no stone unturned to ensure the completion of the rail projects.
“We are undergoing inspection of the project to showcase to Nigerians the amount of works the administration had done in the last three years.
“The idea is to let Nigerians know that this administration has done a lot on infrastructure development.
“In particular, people complain that they do not know what we have done. Whereas a lot have been done which we need to showcase to Nigerians,’’ he said.
Rotimi Amaechi, in his remarks said the project which is a section of the Lagos – Kano standard gauge project had generated no fewer than 7,000 jobs for Nigerians within the period its construction process began.
Amaechi said with the laying of 1.2 kilometre track per day, the deadline for the completion of the project would be met.
He disclosed that it has been agreed that the 81 Battalion Army ordinance depot in Yaba which formed one of the encumbrances to the project would be relocated to a different location.
The rail project extended to Apapa Port to help decongest the traffic encountered in the axis for ease operations.
The project crisps cross nine stations along the main line including, Lagos, Agege, Agbado and Kajola, Papalanto, in Abeokuta, and Olodo Omi Adio and Omi in Ibadan respectively.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja
