Akor Sylvester
6 November 2009
Abuja — Efforts to boost rail transport and reduce the burden on Nigerian roads got underway yesterday as Federal Government signed a N12.3 billion contracts agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for the rehabilitation of Lagos-Jebba rail line project.
The contract which also covered the installations of signal and communication facilities along the route is to be completed in ten months.
Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio who signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, however warned the contractors handling the projects that "this is not another ritual, this is real and it must be realised".
The minister regretted that the nation's narrow-gauge rail system of 3,505 kilometres which before now, has been enmeshed in myriad of constraints that almost erased the existence of rail transport industry in Nigeria.
He pointed out that, "at this crucial state of the nation's unrelenting quest for an efficient rail transport system in Nigeria, it will be most expedient on all to justify the financial resources the Federal Government has put into revamping the rail system.
"It was revealed that the facilities available in Nigeria were enormous to be left unattended to. The rail transport sub-sector was in complete dilapidated. This administration knew the impotence of rail transport as the hub and epicentre of any meaningful transport system in any nation.
Alhaji Bio noted that, "it is against this backdrop that this administration expressed its interest in revamping the nation's existing rail system while modernisation and standardisation of the rail system is equally pursued.
"May I congratulate all of us Nigerian for the socio-economic advantages the rehabilitation of Nigeria Railway Corporation will avail us as well as the stronger integration this ongoing rehabilitation of the railway system will bring to our dear nation.
"For avoidance of doubt, this administration will expect that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Nigerian Railway engineers, and others involved in this N12.3 billion Lagos-Jebba leave no stone unturned as to achieve completion of the project within its time space of 10 months.
Speaking earlier, Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Alhaji Bello Haliru Mohammed, commended the current efforts by the administration rehabilitates rail transport system, which he described as truly a catalyst to Nigerian's economic and social development and as nucleus of inter-modal transport system.
He recalled that, "before the oil boom, Nigerian Railway Corporation remained the anchor of transport business around which the national economic development of Nigeria was built. The corporation was at the forefront of moving people and goods from place to place which, as you all will agree, has contributed very immensely to the development of towns, villages and cities.
Alhaji Mohammed appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate and work most mutually with one another for the realisation of repositioning the railway sector for improved services to Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Adeseyi Sijuwade, said 25 locomotives engines have been ordered from General Electric (GE) and about 120 coaches and wagons are undergoing refurbishing.
He said, "with the completion of track and signal rehabilitation, there will be no doubt that these 25 locomotives engines will be utilized to the optimal level", he said.
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It is a good development that Nigeria once again is taking up the initiative of going back to the rail system which used to be the bane of Nigeria's economy. Such initiative I believe will help reduce probably the rate of road accidents in our country. However, the question is at this Twenty-first century I hope Nigeria is going to introduce the modern day rail system and not this old and out dated system that keeps reminding us and traumatizing our grand parents of Colonial rule? What is the government doing, many of them there in power have been to foreign countries and are witnesses to this latest development. Much as I am happy of this new development I hope my country will bring in something that would not remind us of ''White oppression and imperial rule''.
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