Skeletal operations of Lagos-Ibadan railways commences September, says NRC

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Saturday said it will commence skeletal operations on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Guage Rail line from the mid September, 2020.

The Managing Director, NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria also noted that the operation will start with 16 trips on a daily basis.

He disclosed this during an inspection tour of the project by the Ministers of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Okhiria further noted that since the track laying had been totally put in place between Ebute-Metta Junction (EBJ) in Lagos and Ibadan with stations under construction, added operation would start between Yaba in Lagos and Ibadan.

“We will start by the middle of September from Yaba to Ibadan while the other construction finishing will continue.

“We already have 24 coaches and a set of DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) made of eight coaches.

“With that, we intend to have 16 trips a day,” he said.

He added that the corporation will not wait for all the stations to be ready before commencing operations, so that Nigerians can start enjoying the dividends of the tracks and coaches that have arrived.

He maintained that the stations along the corridor are Apapa, EBJ, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Olodo, Omi-Adio and Ibadan.

Meanwhile the Minister of Transportation in his speech, stated that the completion time for the project is being targeted at January 2021 if the Covid-19 will not be a constraint to the workers.

According to him; “before Covid-19, for every station we have between 150 to 200 workers but now we have 10 to 20 workers on the sites.

“We have told them now to increase the numbers of workers and manage Covid very well.

“Covid-19 has come to stay but government has to run.

“We have to deliver our promises to the people because that is why we are elected, so, let us hope that by January next year, the project will be ready”.

Amaechi, however, urged the Chinese contractor in charge of the project to speed up work and deliver on time.