The Construction of the Lagos and Ibadan standard gauge railway line meant to be fully in completed in December this year might be delayed due to unforeseen challenges affecting the construction. The Contractor China Civil Engineering and Construction Company has had to contend with a number of obstructions on the rail line’s right of ways such as houses, companies, gas pipelines, water pipes, and overhead bridges.
Nigeria Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who has expressed his concern about the situation at the monthly meeting of the Project Implementation Committee with the CCECC, said that they were “battling with time schedule”.
He said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had started the inspection of some of the gas pipelines on the right of way of the project in Ogun State, saying the inspection would be completed in two weeks.
The inspection took the team, which included the senior officials of the ministry and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, to the project sites in Agbado, Ijoko, Itori, Papalanto, and Abeokuta. The minister said the government had settled property owners whose houses were affected in order to clear the land for the smooth take-off of the project. Asked when the laying of tracks would commence, Amaechi said this would be determined when the issue of the right of way had been addressed.
He said the ministry was collaborating with relevant stakeholders including the Lagos and Ogun state government officials to address the challenges. The Lagos and Ibadan standard gauge railway Project is estimated at $1.5bn.
