Work to begin on Kano-Maradi railway Jan 2021 – Newstrends
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Work to begin on Kano-Maradi railway Jan 2021

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Construction work will commence on $1.9bn rail line that will link Kano with Maradi in Niger Republic, the Federal Government has said.

This is coming after the contractor handling the project has been given the go-ahead to acquire the right of way for the new line.

Already, the government has ordered payment of compensation to people whose land and other property will be affected by the construction of the new rail line. The Federal Executive Council had last month approved the disbursement of $1.96bn for the railway project.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who confirmed the payment of compensation, said this would ensure that the commencement of construction work in January 2021 without any inhibition.

Amaechi said, “Kano-Maradi is at the stage of loan negotiation. In fact, we are fast-tracking them (the Chinese), they are doing front engineering now even before the loan; we are insisting on that.

“We believe that the front engineering should end before January and we should be able to start construction before then.

“We have told them to start acquiring the right of way; pay compensation and start clearing the right of way so that they be ready when the front engineering is over.”

Some people and groups have criticised the extension of railway to Niger Republic while many major states in Nigeria are yet to have the facility.

But the minister has risen in defence of the project, saying it will afford the country the opportunity to compete in the area of transporting cargoes and services to and from landlocked neighbouring countries like Niger via the seaports in Lagos, adding that it is all about economy, not politics.

The new rail line will from Kano link Jigawa, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi in Niger Republic.

Specifically, media aide to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, said, “The rail line will connect three states: Kano, Katsina and Jigawa. It moves from Kano to Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, terminating in Maradi, Niger Republic. This financially empowers Nigeria as the import/export hub for Niger.”

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NRC, APM Terminals seal Lagos-Ibadan cargo movement pact 

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L-R: Director of Operations, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Akin Osinowo; APMT CEO, Mr Frederik Klinke; MD, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, and the CCO, APMT Nigeria, Mrs Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi.

NRC, APM Terminals seal Lagos-Ibadan cargo movement pact 

 

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has concluded arrangement with the management of APM Terminals to commence the expansion of cargo movement from Apapa port, Lagos, to the NRC freight yard in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.

This was disclosed after a meeting between the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, and the APM Terminals team led by its CEO, Mr Frederik Klinke,

NRC Director of Operation, Mr Akin Osinowo, and CCO APM Terminals Nigeria, Mrs Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, also attended the meeting.

Klinke highlighted the strategic advantage of Nigeria being surrounded by a number of landlocked neighbouring countries, creating an opportunity to serve as a hub for importation of containerized goods.

APMT assured NRC of greater efficiency in turnaround of cargo at the port and expansion of the use of rail for cargo evacuation and export through APM Terminals.

He reiterated APMT’s position as the foremost transporter of container freight in the country and a major partner to the NRC.

The MD of NRC expressed appreciation for APM Terminal’s close partnership with NRC for decades.

He stated that the collaboration would be of tremendous benefit to both parties.

“We are going to work for the satisfaction of not only the APMT but all customers who intend to do business with Railways.”

The MD said like he reiterated in his maiden speech at the assumption of office, “prioritizing customers’ satisfaction by improving customer experience and ensuring that our services are reliable, efficient, safe and sustainable” remain cardinal to him.

He added that all key stakeholders including the media, would be deployed extensively to encourage people towards greater use of the rail system.

This, he stressed, would invariably translate into drastically reducing the cost of goods and services.

It would also increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by providing food security, which is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he stated.

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Railway workers unions pledge to work with new MD Opeifa

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Railway workers unions pledge to work with new MD Opeifa

 

The two labour unions at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) say they are prepared to work with the new Managing Director of the corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, to achieve the mandate of President Bola Tinubu for the rail sector.

Leaders of the Nigeria Union of Railway workers (NUR) and Senior Staff Association (SSA) met with the NRC management in Lagos.

Opeifa, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday, said the labour leaders passed the resolution after the meeting with the management on Monday, where all their grievances were tabled for discussion.

The MD described the maiden meeting with the workers’ leaders as “productive with mutual understanding of all issues raised”.

He stated that while some matters raised by the unions were assigned for further discussion at directorate level, others such as the medical personnel allowance, were instantly resolved.

He said, “The unions have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate with the management and provide all necessary support to ensure that train services operate at maximum efficiency, contributing to the growth of rail services in Nigeria as well as reducing the prices of goods and services to achieve Mr. President’s mandate.”

Opeifa expressed happiness at the outcome, adding that with the workforce behind him, he could now begin to work at optimizing railway operations in the country.

He said the management was committed to the welfare of the workers and ensuring that their work as well as living conditions would be adequately catered for under his leadership.

The labour unions had during Opeifa’s resumption indicated their willingness to drop their agitation in deference to the new managing director who they described as a member of the human rights family.

National President of the NUR, Innocent Aji, lauded Opeifa for his frankness.

He appreciated the MD’s willingness to listen attentively to their grievances, adding that the union would hold tenaciously to the promises extracted from him during the meeting.

Corroborating the NUR president, his counterpart at the Senior Staff Association, Marcel Okeke, said their decision to rein in the workers was informed by the human rights pedigree of the new managing director, and his openness during the meeting.

According to Okeke, the union leaders were enamoured by the fact that the managing director was once a comrade, adding that they had no doubt that under him, railway workers would enjoy a new deal and a new lease of life.

They reached the truce just as Opeifa assured them that under him, the NRC management would continue to foster greater collaboration with the unions for the purpose of promoting industrial harmony.

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Work set to begin on Green Line Rail, says Lagos Commissioner 

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Work set to begin on Green Line Rail, says Lagos Commissioner 

 

Construction work is set to commence on the 68-kilometre Green Line rail project, which will connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The news came after the Lagos State government had signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for exploratory work on the project to begin.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made the disclosure on Tuesday.

“This landmark project will improve connectivity, ease movement, and boost economic activities between critical areas in Lagos,” he said.

The Federal Government allocated a total of N146.14 billion in the 2025 budget as counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail project.

The 68-kilometre rail network will stretch from the Lekki Free Trade Zone to Marina, connecting vital areas of Lagos, including Victoria Island, Lekki, and Ajah.

The Green Line is the state’s third rail line, coming after the inauguration of the Blue Line (electric) and the Red Line (diesel) connecting Marina to Mile 2 (extending to Okokomaiko) and Marina to Agbado respectively.

“This new line will transform our transport landscape, linking key areas like Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and more,” Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of the state, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter).

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