Abuja light train moved 250,000 passengers in 100 days – CCECC

The Abuja Light Rail system moved over 250,000 passengers in over 100 days since commercial passenger operations commenced.

An official of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), John Zhao, disclosed this in a post on X Friday.

The rail system featuring two lines with a total length of 45km was developed and is currently operated CCECC.

According to Zhao, the rail network consists of 12 stations, connecting key areas such as the Abuja city centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the main railway line, and Kubwa satellite town.

“During its operation, over 250,000 passengers have already been served,” he stated.

“The Phase I of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit by CCECC has been operating safely for over 100 days.

“Consisting of 2 lines with a total length of 45 km and 12 stations, the maximum operating speed of the trains can reach 100 km/h.

“It connects Abuja city centre, the international airport, rail line, and Kubwa satellite town.”

The post further noted that since the Abuja light rail commenced passenger operations, it had significantly reduced traffic jam in the Federal Capital City.

In May 2024, passenger operations were launched on Phase 1 of the rail line, with CCECC currently operating the line.

President Bola Tinubu introduced a two-month free ride service, which was later extended to the end of 2024, significantly boosting public interest and use of the rail system.

The Abuja Rail Mass Transit, constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and inaugurated in 2018 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had faced delay in fully commencing operations due to a lack of essential infrastructure, including access roads.

The challenges, along with disruptions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, led to the project being temporarily halted. To address these issues, several budget allocations were made.

In August 2023, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) awarded a N5 billion contract to CCECC for the rehabilitation of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit.

Further rehabilitation efforts continued with N29 billion allocated in the 2024 Federal Capital Territory statutory budget to support the project.

The original construction of the project cost $823 million.

JUST IN: Petrol price to drop as marketers pay N766/litre for Dangote PMS

Nigerians may no longer pay as much as N898 for a litre of petrol as recently given by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as the least amount for the product.
This indication emerged with both major and independent marketers confirming that they bought a litre of petrol from the NNPCL at N766.
It was learnt that Mobil now 11Plc, Total Energies, AA Rano and other marketers had begun lifting Dangote petrol from the NNPC Trading Limited at the rate of N765.99 per litre.
Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment processes on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

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A report by BusinessDay quotedTunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc, as confirming on Thursday evening that some marketers had started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC, the sole off-taker of product.

“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.
He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol.”
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC, said marketers could not purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product was still being sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

JUST IN: Petrol price to drop as marketers pay N766/litre for Dangote PMS

Coca-Cola to invest $1bn in Nigeria, company’s president visits Tinubu

The Coca-Cola Company has revealed plans to inject $1 billion into the Nigerian economy over the next five years.

This announcement came during a meeting between Coca-Cola’s President and CFO, John Murphy, and President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

Murphy shared that Coca-Cola’s operations in Nigeria currently contribute around N320 billion annually through nearly 300,000 customers and generate close to N90 billion in revenue for the government.

Joined by Nigerian Bottling Company Chairman, Ambassador Segun Apata, Murphy expressed pride in Coca-Cola’s sustained growth and its impact on Nigerian communities.

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He emphasized the company’s focus on sustainability efforts, including water conservation and packaging innovations.

President Tinubu, in response, reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to fostering a business-friendly environment to attract further foreign investments.

He praised Coca-Cola for its ongoing investment in Nigeria, which supports over 3,000 jobs across nine production facilities.

CEO of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Zoran Bogdanovic, also highlighted the company’s confidence in Nigerian policies, citing the government’s commitment to ensuring a secure environment for foreign investments as a key factor behind the $1 billion pledge.

Bogdanovic noted that Coca-Cola has already invested $1.5 billion since 2013 and remains optimistic about Nigeria’s future growth potential.

Coca-Cola to invest $1bn in Nigeria, company’s president visits Tinubu