Lagos-Ibadan Rail: CCECC must complete stations by end of January 2020 – Amaechi

Abiodun OBA |

Abeokuta railway station under construction along Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line. (Photo/NAN)

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has ordered the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation’s (CCECC) to complete the construction of the 10 railway stations along Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line by the end of January 2020.

Amaechi made the remarks on Friday at the Abeokuta rail station under construction, during the monthly inspection of the on-going Lagos to Ibadan Rail project describing it as embarrassing.

According to him, CCECC, the contractor handling the 156km rail line, has reduced the pace of work between the last two inspections in November and December.

“The delay is becoming an embarrassment and I think we need to meet with the CCECC. We cannot continue like this. The speed has reduced drastically this time, we need to meet with the management of CCECC. We have a problem with CCECC honestly,” the minister said.

Amaechi, who expressed displeasure over the work pace at Agbado, Kajola, Papalanto and Abeokuta’s railways stations, said the contractor had promised to finish the stations within three months.

The minister urged the contractor to engage workers who were ready to work.

According to him, all reasons the contractor is not moving forward as expected must be tackled to ensure the delivery of the stations as soon as possible.

He said that blockwork, flooring, plastering and pipe laying should have moved forward than the stage they were.

He, therefore, urged the contractor not to wait until April when the project was expected to be inaugurated before completing them.

Amaechi said three years after the inauguration of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, the contractor was still at the site working on power.

According to him, the Ibadan-Kano standard gauge rail line was billed for commencement in 2020, so all the projects comprising track laying, stations, power should be taken at the same time.

The track laying has moved from Iju Station to around Agege and work was still ongoing at the Lagos axis.

Amaechi had assured Nigerians that the entire project would be delivered by April 2020.