Relocation of infrastructure delays final Apapa port railway link – Minister

The third and final track to link Apapa port to the new Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line is currently being delayed due to issues relating to removal of some port facilities along the path.

Specifically, cracks along the quay apron of the Lagos Port Complex and a scanning machine at APM Terminals have been identified as major encumbrances.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this on Monday after inspecting the cracks and the scanning machine.

He, however, said a decision would be taken on how to address the problem at a meeting with experts later.

He said, “All we came to do today is to see how we will fix the track to the quays. We have problems with some port infrastructure to be removed or not to be removed.

“Luckily, the Customs has given us the go-ahead to remove them but their removal has proved a bit difficult. So, we are going to the office now to discuss with experts on how to remove this infrastructure.

“The second issue is that there are some cracks at the quays apron where we want to lay the track. We have come today to inspect those cracks and we will decide after meeting with experts.”

On when the port will be finally connected to the rail, Amaechi said, “I cannot give a timeline to that now because addressing these issues with port infrastructure is a bit technical. Until the engineers come up with a proper solution and time-based solution, that is when we can speak on when we will connect the port to the rail. I am not an engineer; I’m just the head of the ministry in charge.

“There are three tracks that enter the port, but we have issues with one of the rail tracks that has to pass through where the scanner is located. So, we are going to have a meeting to know how to go ahead with this. I won’t be making decisions at the meeting because I am just a policy implementer. I will allow the experts to come up with solutions that will guide our judgement in getting across this hurdle.

“We are working hard to find solutions; but we need expert advice to go ahead because these things are technical. We cannot commission if we don’t find a solution to these issues.”

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, an engineer, explained that it is only when the tracks get to the seaside that issues with multiple handling of cargoes could be eradicated.

He said, “The essence of the rail is to move freight. So, we have to get to the port seaside meaningfully, not just getting to the port. This has to happen so that multiple handling of cargoes will be eradicated. Presently, trucks are paid to bring cargoes to the rail because the tracks have not reached the seaside inside the container terminal.

“For now, the rail has reached the ENL Terminal which is a bulk cargo terminal. It is these encumbrances at the container terminal that are delaying the track from getting to the APM Terminals. As the minister has said, we are going for a meeting now to see how we can get across that hurdle.”