Police arrest two suspected train vandals in Lagos – Newstrends
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Police arrest two suspected train vandals in Lagos

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The police in Lagos have arrested two men suspected to specialise in vandalising and stealing railway track.

They were said to have been arrested in the early hours of Monday January 30 while conveying in a private car some pieces of cut off rail track to an unknown destination.

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the arrest of the two suspects on his Twitter handle.

He stated, ”At about 1am today, a patrol team from Ijora Badia Division intercepted a Mitsubishi Lancer car conveying vandalised railway tracks. The two occupants of the vehicle have been arrested. Investigation is ongoing.”

Some incidents of train derailment in parts of the country have been traced to sudden damage to rail track suspected to have been done by vandals.

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UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

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UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Messrs MPH Rail Development Limited, a United Kingdom company for the construction of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line.

The project when completed will be operated under a public-private partnership framework.

These details are contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and published on its website.

Under the MoU, the UK firm will manage the design, construction, commissioning, operation and eventually transfer to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The ministry stated that the MoU signing followed the approval of the Outline Business Case and the issuance of a compliance certificate by the Infrastructure, Concession, and Regulatory Commission.

This clearance allows Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to focus on assembling the necessary documents for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval to proceed with the project.

Some of the essential documents for advancing this initiative are listed as a comprehensive feasibility study report, a full Business Case Study, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, the production of a Resettlement Action Plan, and the design of a Financial Model to implement the project.

This would ensure transfer of the line to the Federal Government under a PPP arrangement without incurring loans or debts for the Nigerian government or its agencies.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Alkali pledged the ministry’s support for the successful implementation of the project.

He emphasized the importance of diligent preparation and submission of all requisite documents to expedite FEC’s approval.

The statement read in part, “As part of the initiative to consolidate the ongoing railway modernisation projects consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Presidential Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has executed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transportation with Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to enable the company to carry out the design, construction, commissioning, operation and transfer of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line on Public – Private Partnership basis.”

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Tinubu inaugurates Lagos Red Rail Line, says Nigerians deserve access to multiple transport modes

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Tinubu inaugurates Lagos Red Rail Line, says Nigerians deserve access to multiple transport modes

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Red Rail Line in Lagos with a declaration that Nigerians deserve access to efficient multiple modes of transportation.

The 37km intra-state rail line is the second rail projects to be inaugurated by the Lagos State Government in less than one year. The first, Lagos Blue Rail Line, was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in the twilight of his administration last year.

Tinubu, speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, said, “Nigerians must be able to enjoy access to multiple alternative modes of transportation all of which are safe, efficient and affordable.

“The nation’s transportation minister is here. It is very critical for your ministry to collaborate further with subnational government, to help build a Nigeria for the greatest number of people.”

How it started

He recalled how the railway project started while he was Lagos State governor.

He said, “Twenty-five years ago, I was elected to lead Nigeria’s most populous state, the smallest in land mass, when all that existed here was suppressed and aborted potential and when the dream began, my team and I toiled day and night to craft and implement a developmental vision that would transform Lagos into the economic power house of Africa and a respected mega city on a global state. We are releasing that dream.

“I’m pleased to declare to you that the moment of greatness we kick-started a quarter of century ago has since become unstoppable.”

The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the nation’s infrastructural development.

No going back on reforms

He also said there was no going back on the reforms embarked upon by his government.

“This reform that is ongoing, we are not looking back; the engineering, the construction, the affirmation of our pledge to be loyal to our country. One thing I know is that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Battle with corruption

President Tinubu also spoke on his government’s battle with corruption, admitting that while the administration was making efforts to fight corruption, the scourge would fight back.

He said, “We said we can do it, you believed in us. We said the people’s lives will end up being better, you believed in us. I could hear a lot of voices right now, I asked for this job, I cannot complain, it’s all about democracy.

“I agree smugglers will fight back, corruption will fight back. We will fight them to ruin. Corruption will go away, save the money for you to educate our children, to pay for the healthcare system of our people, to pay for the modern transportation system that works for highest number of people, not those few smugglers.”

He commended Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the giant strides.

“As we inaugurate the first phase of the Red Line, we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Work still needs to be done at national and subnational level. No room for complacency. I look forward to the completion of the other phases.

“I perceive massive economic opportunities coming out of this.

“I am assuring that Nigeria will be out of economic problems, we just need to persevere, work hard,” the President said.

Sanwo-Olu: A new developmental pace

Governor Sanwo-Olu in his speech said the Lagos Red Line was not just about improving the city’s mobility, but reshaping the urban landscape and setting a new pace for development.

“We’re opening doors to opportunities, growth, and a sustainable future,” said the governor.

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We’ll start running Apapa/Lagos-Kano freight train next month – Minister Alkali  

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We’ll start running Apapa/Lagos-Kano freight train next month – Minister Alkali  

 

Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has said freight train from Apapa in Lagos to Kano will commence operations by the end of the this quarters.

He also said construction of standard gauge rail line from Ibadan to Abuja would start soon.

He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital when he paid a visit to the state governor Dapo Abiodun.

The minister accompanied by states commissioners of transportation were in Abeokuta for the 18th edition of the National Council on Transportation.

Alkali said the Nigerian Railway Corporation had started the movement of 90 containers daily at the APMT terminal Apapa to Ibadan.

He said that the ministry was currently in high-level discussions with foreign investors to see how the transportation sector could be fixed.

“In December last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Vice President to lead a delegation to attend a conference in Beijing.

“The Vice President was privileged to hold a bilateral discussion with the Chinese President, among the issues raised was in respect of our railway modernisation project.

“The project was segmented initially. From Lagos to Ibadan was completed and put into use, and Abuja to Kaduna, Warri to Itakpe. We are looking at the possibility of continuing the project from Ibadan to Abuja and from Kaduna to Kano,” he said.

The minister commended Governor Abiodun for the great work in the transportation sector he had started in the state.

The governor responding said plans by the Federal Government to connect industrial zones in the country through rail lines would reduce pressure on the highways and prolong their lifespan.

The governor also noted that the resuscitation of the narrow gauge from Ibadan to Abuja, when completed, would give investors the opportunity to wheel cargo all the way from Lagos to Kano State and improve trade and commerce.

A statement from the state government House on Friday said the governor commended the minister for the bold steps being taken to reposition the transportation sector of the country.

He noted that the plan by the Ministry of Transportation to resuscitate the Kaduna to Kano rail line would further open up the country for commerce.

“I am very glad about the laudable achievements under your watch. The initiatives that you’re championing, the intervention you have sought from the Chinese to resuscitate the Kaduna to Kano line so that you will now have the connection all the way from Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

“You admitted to me that you are thinking of how to connect our industrial zones together so you can deemphasis vehicular transportation whilst connecting the Badagry Port to the rail line that will connect with the Lagos to Kano line, also thinking of a line that will go from Lekki port to Ijebu-Ode and connect to Kajola.

“This is indeed very laudable thinking. This is what you see when you put people who have the requisite experience and capacity in position of authority, ” he said.

The governor added that his administration, upon realising the importance of the transportation sector, quickly created a ministry that would see to the running of the sector in the state.

“We understand the importance of the ministry of transportation when I assumed office. We didn’t have that ministry in Ogun State. We had the Ministry of Works, and for some strange reasons, my predecessor assumed that the Commissioner for Works can carry out the responsibilities of the Commissioner for Transportation.

Abiodun said his administration was committed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope, adding that the state under his watch would continue to put the people first.

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