As a precautionary measure to prevent accidents along the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail corridor and protect residents of host communities along the rail line corridor, Nigeria’s minister of transportation; Rotimi Amaechi has emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between the various states where the rail tracks passes and the federal government in provision of level crossings.
The minister, who was speaking at the end of the monthly inspection tour of the $1.5 billion Lagos Ibadan rail project, said the communities had expressed concern about the number of under and over passes as well as erosion caused by the standard gauge.
Concerned about the development, the transportation minister directed the Chinese Civil Engineering & Construction Corporation (CCECC) contractors and its engineers handling the project to take a village by village study of what impact the rail lines must have caused these communities vis-a-vis the environmental impact assessment.On the issue of perimeter fencing, the minister expressed dismay that miscreants are sabotaging efforts to secure the rail corridors by fencing.
According to him, if you look at the Warri-Itakpe-Warri line, you will see that we are fencing and the communities are breaking it down. We are having problems with it.We are also fencing Kaduna-Abuja. We will find where we suspect more human interference like Lagos”. Amaechi expressed satisfaction with the level of work done on the stations and expressed hope that, the project will be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari as a New Year gift to Nigerians.
Making further clarification on the issue, Ibrahim Alhassan Musa, chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) board said the corporation is working hand in hand with the Lagos, Oyo and Ogun state governments to ensure there are enough level crossings.
