Railway
We’ll start running Apapa/Lagos-Kano freight train next month – Minister Alkali
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.
Railway
Nigeria gets $350m AfDB facility for Kano-Maradi rail project
Nigeria gets $350m AfDB facility for Kano-Maradi rail project
The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured $350 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to fund the construction of the Kano-Maradi rail project, which will connect Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero, made this disclosure on Monday during an oversight visit to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) headquarters in Lagos, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Aliero stated that the Kano-Maradi rail project is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s railway network and enhance regional trade links.
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“The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Adamu Aliero, says the African Development Bank has released $350 million to the Federal Government for construction of a rail line from Kano to Maradi,” the NAN report read in part.
He also highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to China focused on finalizing negotiations for 85% of the financing needed to upgrade and rehabilitate the nation’s rail infrastructure.
Aliero disclosed that the supplementary budget recently passed by the National Assembly allocated over N530 billion as counterpart funding for these modernization efforts. The remaining 85% of the funds will be sourced from institutions such as China Exim Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and AfDB.
Nigeria gets $350m AfDB facility for Kano-Maradi rail project
Railway
Lagos Blue Rail: LAMATA speaks on fire incident
Lagos Blue Rail: LAMATA speaks on fire incident
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has reacted to a fire incident affecting a section of the Blue Rail Line that occurred in the Apangbon area of the state on Saturday.
A statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communication at LAMATA, Kolawole Ojelabi, attributed the incident to a spark, leading to a disruption in the passengers operations of the line.
The statement read, “The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is aware of a spark, inducing fire, at a section of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) near the old NEPA station by Eko Bridge around Apongbon area of Lagos Island.
“As a result, passenger operations of the Blue Line were disrupted.
“Following the spark, the system isolated the section for investigators and engineers from the Independent Power Plant powering the train to trace the source of the fire.
“The Closed-Circuit camera along the section promptly alerted emergency staff who triggered the emergency response process.
“No passengers on the train and workers were in danger following the fire incident.
“Engineers are working profusely to replace the burnt cables, and it is projected that train operation will resume Sunday morning.
“LAMATA is committed to ensuring the safe operation of the Blue Line, the first rail system to be powered by electricity in West Africa.”
Railway
Fire guts part of Lagos Blue Rail Line
Fire guts part of Lagos Blue Rail Line
There was a fire outbreak on Saturday that affected a section of the Lagos Blue Line rail track near the NEPA Station in the Apogbon area of Lagos State.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, confirmed the incident via his X handle.
The fire, which occurred at 4:12pm, did not result in any casualties, and no trains were in operation when the outbreak occurred.
Akosile further disclosed that emergency responders promptly extinguished the fire and put the situation under control.
The statement read in part, “No casualty is reported and no train service at the time of the incident.
“A team of safety and emergency personnel and other first responders had completely put out the fire.
“Lagosians in that axis can go about their business peacefully as the situation under control.
“Kindly await further details on operations of the train from @Lamataonline.”
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