The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
Recall that Amaechi had assured that the federal government will deliver the project to Nigerians in December 2018 and latest January 2019.
The Sight News recalled that the Minister in one of his inspection tours to the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line in February 2018, said that the line will be functional by January 2019.
“We hope this project will be completed within the life span of construction. Nigerians are putting us under immense pressure. This Contract is three years and we are doing it within one year and two months. Our target is December 2018 but at most, January 2019, Nigerians will start to enjoy the Dividends of Democracy”, Amaechi stated in February.
Meanwhile, the Minister in his recent visit to Lagos on Tuesday to inspect the ongoing construction work of the Lagos end of the project, disclosed that the CCECC has not made major progress in the last three months particularly, between Ebute-Metta and Apapa Ports.
“If I say I’m impressed with CCECC on the Lagos angle of the project, I will be lying. The problems of water pipes, gas pipeline, sewage and other challenges which hitherto was impeding progress of work has been resolved”, he said.
According to him, the Lagos end of the project is critical and any delay of construction work would affect the scheduled completion period of the project.
Furthermore, a total of 10 Stations will be constructed along the corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway line. Apapa, Lagos, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papàlanto, Abeokuta, Olodo, Omi-Adio and Ibadan.
He, however commended the Contractor for the appreciable level of progress achieved so far between Abeokuta and Lagos and Abeokuta and Ibadan.
“You will agree with me, between Abeokuta and Lagos and Abeokuta and Ibadan, CCECC has done fairly well”, he enthused.
On the December completion period, the Minister advised Nigerians to be patient as the Federal government is committed to deliver the project in good time.
