New Lagos-Ibadan rail ready for travellers in December – Amaechi

People travelling from Lagos to Ibadan, South-West of Nigeria, for the end of this year’s festivities will be able to use the fast rail line being constructed along that route, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said.

The minister also hinted that President Muhammadu Buhari would ride on the train in January next year to formally flag off commercial operation on the new standard gauge rail line.

Amaechi spoke in Ibadan railway station of the standard gauge line on Saturday during a tour of the line and stations between Lagos and Ibadan undertaken with with top officials of the ministry, Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Ibrahim Musa; and Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okheria.

He was fielding questions from journalists on the extent of job done by the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and when full commercial operation would begin on the new rail line.

He said the track work had been completed with finishing touches being carried out by the CCECC on the train stations.

“Whether we finish or not, it is necessary to provide train services before the festive season.”

Amaechi, however, said the end-of-year travellers would have to pay for their trip on the train, adding that “it will no longer be free.”

The Federal Government had for about two months made ride on the fast train by members of the public free before the outbreak of coronavirus as part of the trial run ahead of full operation.

“We have had several test-runs. From 2019 December, we have been having test-runs. This trip is also a test-run,” Amaechi stated.

The minister commended the pace of work by the Chinese contractors, noting, “The last time we came, we were literally quarrelling with them. But now there is a huge improvement.

“The contractor has done the best it could. The problem is with the weather. There was a time we had challenges with weather. But beyond that I think that they have done well. The guys have done well, we have given them a timeline and they are trying to meet up.

“I think there is a huge improvement from the last time we came and you can see that it (the work) is coming to an end.”