The Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring that the December 2018 delivery date of the ongoing rail project appears to be shaking as a result of numerous challenges and obstacles like gas and petroleum pipelines, old and new telecommunications equipment and electricity cables amongst other along the corridor.
Briefing newsmen after the monthly meeting of the Project Implementation Committee with the CCECC at the end of an inspection tour of the project this week, Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation said that the Federal Government is “battling with time schedule”.
While expressing worry about a number of unforeseen challenges affecting the construction of a standard gauge railway line between Lagos and Ibadan, the Minister said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had started the inspection of some of the gas pipelines on the right of way of the project in Ogun State, saying the inspection would be completed in two weeks.
Asked when the laying of tracks would commence, Amaechi said this would be determined when the issue of the right of way had been addressed.
He said the ministry was collaborating with relevant stakeholders including the Lagos and Ogun state government officials to address the challenges.
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The $1.5bn project, whose groundbreaking ceremony was performed last year by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, then as acting president, is meant to be fully completed in December this year.
As at the time of filing this report, the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, the contractor handling the project is being confronted with a number of obstructions on the rail line’s right of way such as houses, companies, gas pipelines, water pipes and overhead bridges.
The inspection took the team, which included the senior officials of the ministry and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, to the project sites in Agbado, Ijoko, Itori, Papalanto and Abeokuta.
While the Federal and Lagos State governments have agreed to demolish two obstructing bridges in Lagos, the Ministry of Transportation is said to be discussing with relevant authorities to remove other obstructions on the right of way.
