Railway
CCECC to complete Lagos-Ibadan rail signals, communication system March 2022
Three months after the inauguration of the standard gauge Lagos-Ibadan rail by President Muhammadu Buhari, the signal and communication system has not been operational.
The Project Liaison Officer of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Mr Yakubu Adogie, who stated this, however, promised that the company was already working to complete the system before the first quarter of 2022.
He spoke in Lagos when members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Transportation visited the Ebute Meta headquarters of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and inspected the new rail line including the Bola Tinubu Railway Station, Apapa.
Concerns have been raised about system along new railway corridor over delay in the completion of the signalling system.
The signalling system helps to maintain a safe distance between trains on the same track, safeguard train movement at junctions and regulate their passage according to the service density and speed required.
A statement by the NRC on Monday reported the CCECC liaison officer as saying that the company was also working on the plumbing, power supply and telecommunications of other stations within the new Lagos-Ibadan railway corridor.
Adogie lamented that despite intervention of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, in July and payment of compensation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) log room building had not been demolished to give way for the construction of the other two lines to connect Apapa port.
The Projects Manager of TEAM Construction Company Nig. Ltd, Leonardo Portanova, spoke on the overhead bridges and crossings in the Lagos end of the rail line.
According to him, the Lagos State Government is constructing seven overhead bridges while TEAM would build six overhead crossings.
The Chairman, Joint Senate/House Committee on Transportation, Abdulfatai Buhari, said the legislators would support the NRC with necessary legislative framework to ensure effective rail transport and boost inter-regional business in the country.
He promised the committee’s commitment for excellent delivery on the NRC’s mandate in line with international best practices.
“You are all aware that the joint committee is carrying out its statutory constitutional responsibilities to ascertain the level of work done.
He said, “We are here to oversee how funds appropriated in the past fiscal years were expended and how much needed for the smooth running of the corporation against the next budgetary allocation.
“We had the benefit of listening to your presentation and recommendations at the last budget defence as regards the performance on 2020 budget and 2021 budget appropriations.”
Buhari said that the committee’s visit was not to witch-hunt the corporation but to collaborate and ensure the rail revitalisation agenda as well as infrastructural development programme of the current administration.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Transportation, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, asked the contractors to open a good channel of communication with them to enable that the committee defend them on their requirements to make the land transport viable for business.
He also urged the NRC management to always make their reports available quarterly to improve the synergy with the National Assembly.
He said the committee also sought the need for housing scheme for workers to improve staff welfare and enhance efficiency.
Earlier in his presentation, the NRC Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria, gave current personnel strength of the corporation as 10,672 with current personnel cost of N9.137 billion for 2021.
He also said that a total of 1,000 additional workers would be required for the operation of the new Lagos-Ibadan rail line, with additional wage bill of N567, 451,300 per annum.
He pleaded with the committee to support the NRC to achieve its goal of expanding the operations nationwide for effective transportation of people and freight.
Okhiria added, “On corporation’s revenue generation since 2020, NRC has remitted N1. 126bn to Federal Government approved dedication TSA Account domiciled with the CBN.”
Railway
Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC
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.
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Iloanusi outlined the other routes benefiting from the scheme, which include the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service, Kaduna-Abuja Train Service, Warri-Itakpe Train Service, Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit in Lagos. Notably, little was previously known about the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit service until this disclosure.
“Let me mention the routes where this free train service is happening. We have the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service, we have the Kaduna-Abuja Train Service, we have the Warri-Itakpe Train Service, we have the Lagos Rail Mass Transit trains, we have the Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service, and we have what we call the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit, which is also in Lagos,” he stated.
Iloanusi provided operational updates, stating that passengers nationwide can access free tickets online or, for those unable to do so, at train stations where they will be profiled and validated.
He noted that passengers using NRC-managed services (excluding the Lagos Rail Mass Transit) should reserve tickets via the official website, www.nrc.gov.ng, with a valid ID required. He also advised travelers to plan, arrive on time, and bring valid identification.
Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC
Railway
NRC announces special Xmas, end-of-year train service
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
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.
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“The contractor has submitted the technical specifications and maintenance manual for the Port Harcourt–Aba section to the consultants.
“The ministry is committed to completing this project, which will foster national development,” he said.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Ben Iloanusi, commended the Federal Government and the ministry of transportation for the timely completion and transfer of the project.
Iloanusi, represented by the NRC Deputy Manager (Civil), Adesegun Ogunade, said that the railway had greatly benefited Nigerians seeking affordable transportation options.
“The rail line, now in operation, has started mitigating the impact of high transportation costs caused by economic challenges,” he said.
“Train services have been running for some time and passengers have reported that it has made commuting between Port Harcourt and Aba more convenient, faster and cheaper.
“People are already experiencing the benefits of this government’s policies and programmes.’’
He assured that the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri section would also be completed in due course, emphasising that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure the safety of workers and passengers.
FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC
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