FG committed to revitalising rail transport system – Minister says

chika ebuzor

April 26, 2016 7:22 AM

Amaechi gave the assurance at a town hall meeting, organised by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, on Monday in Lagos.

Rotimi Amaechi

The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Ameachi has said that the Federal Government remained committed to the

revitalisation of a sustainable and efficient transport sector to promote commerce in the country.

"The first railway contract in the revitalisation policy was awarded by former president Olusegun Obasanjo that is railway from Lagos to Kano; the next one was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Lagos to Calabar.

"In all these there agreement with Chinese government that there will be counterpart funding of 15 per cent; we did not fulfill these

agreements.

"The only place they tried a bit was the Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, which is yet to be completed; and we are working extremely hard to

ensure that between June and July we would commercialise that rail line.

"That will reduce the challenges of production; to convey goods and services between Kaduna and Abuja.

"And I assure that, by God’s grace, before the end of the year we would commence work on the Lagos – Kano rail line.”

He added that his ministry would ensure the country’s rail lines were connected to the sea ports in order to reduce the burden on roads and clogging of Lagos ports.

"When we took over, we discovered that there is nowhere that railway doesn’t end up at the sea port; but this one did not end up at the seaport.

"So what we did is to connect it to Calabar, Port Harcourt and Onne, and Warri Sea ports and then to either tin can or Apapa.

"It means if you are in Onitsha you want to import through Warri that’s your business.

"If you are in Port Harcourt you don’t need to come to Lagos anymore, the same also goes to those who are in Calabar; that is what we’ve done.’’

He said that the Federal Government had commenced negotiation for the completion of the Itakpe-Warri rail line which had been abandoned for more than 32 years.

"Nigeria has been struggling to construct that rail line in 32 years.

"We are negotiating with a Chinese company that is ready to take up that rail line together with the Ajaokuta steel plant.

"We would carry it all from Itakpe down to Abuja and then down to the sea port in Warri; that entire solid mineral axis will be covered but

we have also introduced passenger trains as well.

"We have not concluded negotiation with them, but when we do, we will handover to them.’’

The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government had entered into agreement with the company, General Electric (GE) to revive the old Lagos to Kano rail line.

chika ebuzor