FG plans western rail line to cover 9 states, FCT - Amaechi

- Rotimi Amaechi has said that the federal government is planning for a western rail line to cover nine states

- He said the rail line would span a total of 1,402 kilometres across the country

- According to the minister of transportation, the project would be completed in 36 months

The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday, June 20, said Nigeria's rail line would cover the western corridor of Nigeria through nine states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Amaechi said the rail line would span a total of 1,402 kilometres across the country.

Speaking at the Forum of China-Africa Transportation Convention in Beijing, China themed ‘Better Transportation, Better World,’ Amaechi said the project would be completed in 36 months.

The minister said the completion of the project would be recorded as soon as the loan agreement was reached between Nigeria and China.

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“This rail line, a total of 1,402Km, which covers the Western corridor of Nigeria traverses nine states of our federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and is expected to be completed within three years if the expected loan agreement with China EXIM Bank for co-financing is reached as expected.

“Nigeria is also partnering other private sector investors, foreign and domestic, including the consortium led by the United States General Electric.

“The successful realization of these projects and their operations will result in attainment of high level of intermodal transport system," Amaechi said.

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The minister also said the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna project has improved citizen’s mobility between Kaduna and Abuja.

He said the project had been completed and commercial train operation has commenced since July, 2016 conveying close to a million passengers.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail lines would start commercial operation in June 2018.

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Amaechi while inspecting the ongoing rail project in Warri, Delta state, said that the federal government had instructed that the project must be completed by the first quarter of 2018 which was included in the budget.

He added that the project was first awarded in 1987 and abandoned for over 30 years which would have been the first standard gauge in Africa.

A ride on the Abuja-Kaduna railway - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng