I’m positive of quick approval of $8b for Ibadan -Kano rail line – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says he is positive about quick approval of the proposed $8billion double gauge rail line because it is expected to pass through Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Niger, Kaduna then Kano state.

He said the estimated $8billion which has been submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would create massive employment and enhance economic growth.

The minister during the inspection of the Lagos to Ibadan railway project on Friday, said apart from the economic growth enhancement, the linkage of the rail will ease movement of passengers and cargoes from seaports which will reduce the gridlock and reduce the wear and tear of the roads.

Amaechi also blamed the slow pace of work from Abeokuta-Ibadan to elections as the policy of the construction firm requires the workers to travel back to their country for elections.

He said before the election, “the contractors had to go back to their country which is their company’s procedure adding that the contractors has assured them that work will speed up”.

The minister apologised to Nigerians over the suspension of free train ride from Lagos to Abeokuta.

He said: “We have directed the contractors to go back to site after the election and they have promised that before the rain starts they would have completed the work”.

“After laying the tracks, the next thing is the stations and you can see that they are working in the stations”

“We have altered the financial agreement sequel to the expansion of all the stations to accommodate some other things,” he said.

The federal government had on February 8, 2019, flagged off a three -month free train ride to convey passengers from Abeokuta to Iju in Lagos state.

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