The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that poor maintence culture by Nigerians and management of public facilities has led to decay of infrastructure critical to national development.
The Minister made this assertion during an inspection tour to Itakpe to test run the newly mounted coaches on the Itakpe-Warri rail corridor, with a view to assessing its readiness for commercial operations.
He, however expressed satisfaction with the level of work done by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), and Project Consultant – Technical Engineering Architectural Management (T.E.A.M) and hopes the great work achieved won’t be undone in a few years from now due to lack of maintenance culture.
Ameachi, further stated that the rail line revitalization is more about tranportation of cargoes than movement of persons. According to him, the revitalization of the rail line is borne out of Federal Government’s desire to diversify transportation in Nigeria by providing alternative means of moving cargoes that is safer, cheaper and more convenient.
Similarly, he was of the opinion that when the route becomes operational, it would serve as a catalyst for the resuscitation of the long abandoned Ajaokuta steel mill.
Answering question on when trains will resume operations, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry and Nigerian railway Corporation (NRC) are working with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on guidelines that would protect commuters. He added that aside from other safety measures, NRC has been directed to convey 25 passengers per coach as against 80 to ensure social distancing.
On the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, the Minister said the pandemic has affected the projected completion date of May, 2020, but gave the assurance that the project will be completed soon.
The high point of the occasion was the naming of the Agbor Station after former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
In the company of the Minister were: the Managing Director, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, the representative of CCECC, the representative of the Project Consultant, (T.E.A.M), Engr. Chiedu Nwazojie, the Director Rail, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mohammed Babakobi among others.
Eric Ojiekwe
D, Press & Public Relation
