The China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail have been given five months to complete the project.
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gave the charge in an inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project in the company of his information counterpart, Lai Mohammed.
Amaechi stated that Coronavirus has come to stay adding that CCECC should devise measures of accomplishing the project.
The Minister urged them to procure personal protective equipment for their workers as no excuse for failure would be accepted.
He noted that funds are not the challenge being faced on the $1.6 bn projects but rather lack of workers. He, therefore, advised the company to adhere to safety measures such as the compulsory use of masks and safety shields by all workers in order to get the required number needed to work in all stations.
On the Ibadan-Kano $5.6 billion rails which is yet to commence, Amaechi stated that the government is yet to secure the loan facility from China, Export-Import Bank, assuring that it remains a priority project of the present administration.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was very happy said: “I am very impressed. The reason we brought you here is to see that it is not a concocted story. This is the reason why we are borrowing the money so that Nigerians can travel in dignity and comfort”.
He further clarified that “monies borrowed are not for grandiose display nor for overhead or running costs for the nation but rather are for capital projects which on completion would create jobs and provide the needed infrastructure for Nigerians”, adding that there is nothing bad in borrowing so long as it is used to provide improved service delivery for the people.
Furthermore, Lai Mohammed commended Amaechi for the passion exhibited in driving the project and urged CCECC not to disappoint.
Speaking with newsmen, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidget Okhiria disclosed that the corporation is working out modalities on commencing operations on the Lagos-Ibadan and the Itakpe-Warri rail corridor in September.
The inspection tour also had other dignitaries such as the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, the Board Chairman, NRC, Engr. Ibrahim Alhassan Musa, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, among others.
Thank you for taking your time in reading through our Journal Today. We wish to always provide you with qualitative Stories as far as GOOD-JOURNALISM is CONCERN. But good journalism costs a lot of money and only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, accountability democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism, we ask you to consider subscribing to our daily news updates.
