LAGOS-IBADAN RAIL ROUTE: Trips To Increase From 8 Per Day, As Patronage Hits 42,000 Passengers per month
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that the Lagos-Ibadan railway route will soon increase to 8 from the current 4 trips it is running.
The Minister said this in stated this in a media parley with Journalists during an inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor barely a month after its commissioning.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation is finetuning coordination of the fully installed communication and signaling system, adding that when that is done, the number of trips on the corridor will be increased from the current 4 trips to 8 per day”, he explained
On the issue of traffic, the Minister said, “On the Lagos-Ibadan route, 42, 000 passengers were moved in June, we expect the figures to surge in the coming months because if we could convey 42, 000 a month after commissioning, then the figures can only increase as more people become aware of the train services”.
Speaking on the poor remuneration and welfare package of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Minister admitted that the Corporation ranks least amongst other agencies under his purview, He promised to ensure it is reviewed upwards.
On the issue of the recent breakdown of the Abuja-Kaduna train, Amaechi also said, “We have written to Mr. President on this issue and he has graciously approved the purchase of spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan trains. Very soon, enough spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan rail will arrive the country. By the time this occurs, we will use some of these parts for the Abuja-Kaduna and hopefully, the issue of incessant breakdown of the trains will be resolved.”
He noted that the trains currently failing were bought in 2016 and had worked perfectly until now that some parts needed to be changed and others serviced.
On use of local content for ongoing rail projects, Amaechi explained that local contractors have failed to meet some prerequisite stipulations such as 5 years’ experience in rail construction adding that most of the local contractors can be likened to “commission agents” and considering them for such projects is tantamount to signing death warrant of Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Directors of the Ministry and NRC accompanied the Minister on the inspection.
