The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that locomotives on Abuja-Kaduna rail route that have broken down up to two times will be returned to China.
“It is worrisome that these locomotives that are brand new are failing,” Amaechi said during an inspection in Lagos.
He explained that the locomotives have a warranty that covers them for over four years, adding that the government was considering returning them to China.
Amaechi explained that it was unreasonable to keep repairing the locomotives since their warranty is still valid.
“This will affect the number of times the train will now run on the route,” he stated.
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On November 20, a train on the Abuja-Kaduna route stopped in the middle of the journey rendering passengers stranded.
That was not the first time the newly acquired locomotives had failed on Abuja-Kaduna rail route.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had said the locomotive breakdown was due to failed turbocharge.
The minister charged Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to speed up action as the stations must start operations in December and must be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021.
On the Kano-Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line, Amaechi disclosed that the positives far outweigh the negatives as apart from the rail corridor creating employment, the project on completion would make Nigeria a destination choice of export for Niger Republic’s goods being that the country is a landlocked nation.
According to him, a direct linkage from Maradi through Kano to Lagos will facilitate trade as well as attract more businesses to Nigeria.
Reacting to questions on the coastal rail line, Amaechi said the project has been approved by the Federal Executive Council but the paucity of funds was delaying its take-off.
On completion of the Apapa axis of the rail line, the minister said NNPC pipes at Ijora constituted a problem.
“We are talking with NNPC; they need to move the pipelines. When they move the pipelines, we will continue with the construction. We reported this case four months ago to the NNPC and they have not responded,” he said.
Abdulfatai Buhari, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land and Marine Transport, on behalf of his colleagues expressed satisfaction with the level of work done. He said the loans which the Senate gave approval were being justified based on what has been achieved and the derivatives it portends for Nigerians on completion.
Asked about his impression on the project, Ben Akabueze, director-general, Budget Office of the Federation, stated that “until we have a functional system both for moving freight as well as passengers, we will be constraining the capacity of the economy to unlock its potential”.
He further explained that monies spent on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail “are well within budget provisions and incidences of overspending are countered through the ‘Annual File Implementation Report’ submitted to the Budget Office”.
