Lack of funds may delay Kano-Kaduna rail project – Minister

Published

3 years ago

February 5, 2022

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says a lack of adequate funding may slow the pace of work and completion of the Kano-Kaduna railway project.

Amaechi made this known while inspecting work on the project in Kano on Friday.

“I have never denied that we are having financial challenges and that is because of the economic downturn.

“The Chinese are not funding the way they used to fund us and up till now, we are yet to conclude the loan for this project. So we are funding this project from the budget.

“That is why I was sceptical about the completion and said if funding is available. However, we are putting pressure on all the necessary institutions that need to give us money.

“But currently, we fund it through the budget, we will approach the Ministry of Finance again to fund us within this period,’’ Amaechi said.

Based on the pace of work by the contractors, and with adequate funds, the minister expressed optimism that the government would deliver the project for commercial activities before May 2023.

He commended the CCECC and the TEAM on the quality of work delivered so far and urged them not to relent so they could deliver a good job to the country.

Amaechi restated the importance of utilising local materials and manpower in the construction of the rail project.

According to him, the government is encouraging not only the use of local materials but passing all those kinds of jobs to Nigerians.

“So that we are part of the process, we are part of the benefits of this, not just economic benefit but also part of the financial benefit,” he said.

On equipment, he said it was agreed that the Chinese should bring in 2,000 pieces of equipment for the construction of the project.

He said this was to ensure the availability of equipment for the project at all times to prevent the reoccurrence of what was experienced during the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

“They brought about 472 equipment, 200 of them are in the seaport, but what we agreed is that they must bring in 2,000 equipment.

“This is because what we suffered in Lagos- Ibadan, was the fact that equipment were breaking down, was not enough and they couldn’t place an order for new ones.

“So for this one, buy all the equipment that you need so that as they break down you replace so that we will be able to complete the project in due time,” he explained.

On the benefits, Amaechi reiterated that the essence of the project was for easy movement of passengers and cargoes, especially cargoes.

He said Kano was the most important economic centre and the project would ensure activities that took place in Kano be conveyed easily to Lagos.

“It will create jobs, already the cost of land here won’t be the same. So the economic value here is much more than it will be before the construction.

“Also, as I will always tell people, you can work in Abuja and take off from Kano, just like it is being done now in Kaduna.

“That way you will reduce the cost of accommodations and those who maintain two homes can now live in Kano and go to work in Abuja,” Amaechi added.

On the motivation behind the rail project, Amaechi said it was the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to connect the country via rail and his duty as Minister of Transport to implement it. (NAN)

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) trains are included in the Federal Government’s free train ride initiative for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The LRMT, which currently includes the Phase 1 Blue Line Rail and the Phase 1 of the Red Line Rail, operates under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

This announcement was made by Ben Iloanusi, the Acting Managing Director of the NRC, during an interview on NTA News TV on Friday, following the launch of the initiative earlier that day.

While Iloanusi stated that Phase 1 of both the Blue Line and Red Line Rail projects are part of the program, LAMATA has yet to confirm this inclusion.

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

Railway

NRC announces special Xmas, end-of-year train service

Published

3 weeks ago

December 5, 2024

Trends Admin

NRC announces special Xmas, end-of-year train service

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it will operate an end of the year special train service on all its routes across the country.
It announced this in a statement on Wednesday by its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, saying it was in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive through the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
It however did not indicate if the special train service would be free or not.
The Federal Government last year similarly declared special train services for Christmas and New Year, which were made free for all users.
The statement added the modality for this year’s special service would be released soon.
The latest statement read, “The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, hereby informs the general public that the NRC shall operate end of the year special train services in commemoration of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“This end-of-the-year special train service on scheduled passenger trains, is part of the government’s gesture towards an enjoyable end of the year celebration.
“Dates and modalities of the end-of-the-year Special Train Service shall be communicated in due course. We wish all our esteemed customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.”

Railway

FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC

Published

3 weeks ago

November 29, 2024

Trends Admin

FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC

The 62-kilometre, $3.02 billion Port Harcourt-Aba railway project has been completed by Federal Government and handed over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The Port Harcourt-Aba section is part of the larger Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway project, initiated under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The project supervisor, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Ayo Dada, formally transferred the railway to the NRC during a brief ceremony held on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

He said that the project, completed in May, had significantly improved passenger movement between Rivers and Abia, thereby enhancing their economies.

“The assets handed over include dismantled tracks measuring 283.060 km, rehabilitated and reconstructed 62.800 km of subgrade and the laying of 62.800 km of rail for the main line,” Dada said.

“This includes the laying of rail for sliding lines covering 5.690 km and the reconstruction of 27 sets of turnouts at Port Harcourt, Elelenwo, Obuzor, Umugo and Aba Stations, among others.”

Dada said that with the handover of the Port Harcourt–Aba section, the Federal Government would focus on the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri phase of the project.