The formal laying of tracks of the N485 billion Lagos- Ibadan standard gauge rail is being stalled by right of way, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed yesterday. One of the challenges stalling the construction work is the ongoing construction of a flyover bridge at Ijoko, Ogun State.
According to the contractors, The height of the flyover bridge should be raised higher. Addressing the challenges, Amaechi who held a meeting with the contractors – the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) – at the railway compound also met with Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State at Ijoko, the site of the flyover bridge.
It was, however, learnt that both the contractors working on the project and the flyover bridge have been directed to meet with a view to ironing out the engineering details involved to see the possibility of raising the height of the flyover from the current for 4.8 meters to 6.5m
Amaechi who briefed newsmen on site alongside the Ogun governor, said as soon as the issues of the flyover height and others associated with the right of way are addressed, construction work would commence on the standard gauge project.
He declared that the December 2018 target given for the completion of work is non-negotiable, saying, “This is the presidential directive that by December 2018, locomotives must start running from Lagos to Ibadan”.
