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FEATURE

THE COMING OF

Nigeria’s

BUSIEST RAIL LINE

By Aondohumba Agabi

The 156.65km Lagos-Ibadan standard The contractor, CCECC, is largely giving move over 1 million commuters monthly.
gauge rail facility might go down as one excuses as to why it would fail. It blamed An economist and financial analyst, Mr.
of the most critical public infrastructure the rain. It had blamed delayed payment Bismarck Riwane who had visited the
built by the President Muhammadu but that is no longer the case. In fact, facility early this year had told journal-
Buhari led government. It may also pass based on the minister’s October visit to ists that facility when completed has the
the business and most profitable rail line inspect the facility, it was obvious, the capability of driving down inflationary
when completed. penchant for the Chinese firm to import pressure on Nigeria’s economy.
This is largely due to the heavy traffic most of the materials from china, even “The project is quite impressive. It’s a mas-
both in human and goods that is antici- the ones that can be sourced locally, sive project and it will have a multiplier
pated will use the facility. largely caused the delay. effect on the economy when it’s finished.
The facility that traverses three states – Based on the last visit, none one of the It will reduce logistics and distribution
Lagos, Ogun and Oyo – is being procured 12 stations are ready, not even the minor cost which is a major area of inflationary
with a $1.5bn soft loan from China. The four. Of course there is the challenge of pressure in Nigeria” he said adding that
FG also injected some N72bn into the extending the line Iju to Ebutte Metta, “anything that reduces inflation impacts
project in counterpart funding. through the heavy infrastructure of Lagos the economy” he said.
Although the line, a segment of the and navigating through pipelines and all He would also say “It’s the impact of the
anticipated 2,733km Lagos-Kano double that stand in the way. investment rather than the Investment
gauge line might be the most critical A recent visit to the facility show that itself that create jobs, reduce cost and
stretch when completed. over 75 percent or more of the tracks improve productivity which is the major
The Lagos-Ibadan rail line is a three has been laid. Mr. Amaechi is pushing concern in Nigeria” he noted.
years old contract awarded to China Civil for test run from Ebutte Metta to Ibadan Mr. Amaechi had also spoken on about
Engineering and Construction (CCECC) by November 25th or at latest before the potential impacts. He said the facility
that terminates March 2020. The com- Christmas. The contractor is however only is a part of the solution to the crisis of
pletion date remains doubtful but the assuring the test run would happen from Lagos sea port.
Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Iju to Ibadan, an option Amaechi has “The moment you fix the rail, the goods
Amaechi has given marching orders to refused. will transfer to the rail and the lock jam
complete the project latest December This facility when completed is anticipat- will be over, especially the goods going
2019. This is not the first deadline he would ed to take off over 200 trailers off Lagos- to Ibadan” he said. “So the pressure is
give. He previously gave a December Ibadan road as people would move more economic than political on people”
2018 deadline. He would extend it to May goods more on rail rather than road thus he said.
2019 and now December 2019. elongated the life of the road and making Nigerians are indeed excited about this
However, there is nothing to suggest this the roads safer and saner. It is also antici- facility and can’t wait to see it operational.
deadline would work. pated to employ over 1000 Nigerians and
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