Lagos-Ibadan railway project proves pessimists wrong - NRC

The Nigeria Railway Corporation District Manager for Western Operations in Ibadan, Engr. Angelique Nkuka, said the kick-off of the Lagos-Ibadan train has proved many who were skeptical about the visibility of the project wrong.

Nkuka stated this while fielding questions at Ologuneru in Ibadan.

The Manager said, “I’m happy to see this project coming to this level, that we are doing a trial on it. I remembered when we just started, many people were skeptical about whether this project will be completed and I’m happy we at this level now. So, that has gone to prove that the government has delivered what they promised and I am happy I’m part of it.”

Many commuters who have enjoyed the free train ride, commended the Federal Government for the impressive extent of work achieved on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project from Iju in Lagos to Ibadan, Oyo state where the 157-kilometer project ends.

Though the project is yet to be completed, the government commenced operations and declared the free ride after a test-run of the train on the Iju-Ibadan axis where rail tracks have been completed while finishing touches are being put on the stations.

The train departs Ibadan for Lagos at 9.00 a.m. each day and returns to Ibadan each day by 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The project – a 156- kilometre Lagos-Ibadan fast rail with extension to Nigeria’s premier port in Apapa, is a three-year venture with the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) as the contractor.

The standard gauge express track is designed to have 10 ultra-modern train stations, all of which have park and ride facilities. While four of these are in Lagos corridor (Apapa, Ebute-Metta, Agege, Agbado), three are in Ogun State (Kajola, Papalanto, Abeokuta), and the remaining are in Oyo State (Olodo, Omi-Adio and Ibadan).

The speed train line is to have 10 ultra-modern railway stations with four in Lagos (Apapa, Lagos, Agege and Agbado), three in Ogun (Kajola, Papalanto and Abeokuta), and three in Oyo (Olodo, Omi Adio, and Ibadan). As part of the package is also four extra-large bridges, 11 large bridges, four medium bridges two steel bridges, 10 frame bridges, 207 culverts, 40 railway crossing-no level crossing, and 31 pedestrian overpasses.