The Nigerian Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to re-design the Lagos-Calabar rail Corridor, there are hopes to commence construction on the entire project.
Mr. Amaechi said the project when started would pass through Ogun State and proceed to the South- South region.
According to him, the project will now commence from Lagos through Apapa, to Epe, and to the Lekki deep seaport in other to ease the logjam been witnessed in Apapa.
The Minister gave the hint at the launch of the Ogun State Strategic Transport Master Plan and Flag-Off of Gateway Bus Pilot Scheme at the Ogun State Government House Abeokuta, Thursday.
It was my pleasure to officially launch the Ogun State Mass Transit Bus Scheme, a project by @dabiodunMFR, & to announce to the public that the Lagos-Calabar rail project will begin soon. We are redesigning it to pass through Ogun State to Lekki Deep Seaport & to the South South. pic.twitter.com/hXLr7sddmg
— Chibuike R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 7, 2022
While also identifying the importance of transportation to mankind, the minister said, “One thing about transportation is the intermodality. No matter what you do about railway, it must end at a terminal point. When you come down from that terminal you must move either by leg or by car. Not only have we done the Lagos-Ibadan railway, we’ll soon commence the construction of the Lagos-Calabar railway and it will pass through Ogun State, as it goes to the South South.
“The President has approved that we should re-direct the initial design of the railway from Lagos through Apapa, to Epe and to the Lekki deep seaport in other to ease the logjam that we are having in Apapa but the debate about it is that the Lagos-Calabar should no longer go to Lagos through Apapa, it should go to Lagos through Epe and to the Lekki deep seaport.
“So, we have instructed the contractor, CCECC to do a fresh design that takes it from Ore, and from there to Lekki deep seaport,” he said.
Amaechi also advised the people to support President Muhammadu Buhari whom despite criticism of borrowing money to construct the railway, approved that the rail corridor be re-designed for the overall benefit of the masses.
He also acknowledged former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his initiative on the country’s rail master-plan been implemented by the present administration and hopes that incoming government would continue with the people-oriented project.
