Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says the non-completion of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project at the stipulated time, will not affect other terms of the contract between the Federal Government and the Chinese contractors, considering some factors associated with the job.
Amaechi made this known during an inspection tour of the project with Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Zhao Dianlong, in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.
Modernisation of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail is currently nearing three years, a period it is expected to have been completed.
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Though the laying of tracks in the Iju axis of Lagos to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has been completed, some delays are still being experienced on other parts of the project especially the linking of Apapa Port to the railway and setting up of the rail stations.
The Minister believes that more can be achieved in no distant time, if the pace of work is sustained
Over $1.7 billion have been committed to the project by the Nigerian government through a counterpart funding arrangement while a timeline of May 2020, marks the end of the contract.
