Abuja – The Federal Ministry of Transport said on Monday it would complete the standard gauge rail line of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) before the December deadline.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, made this known to State House Correspondents in Abuja after he had briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the progress of the railway project and other activities of the ministry.
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Bashar said that train services had been running on the old gauge rail lines from Lagos to Kano twice a week and from Kano to Port Harcourt and back to Gombe.
“First, I think the rehabilitation programme of the old gauge lines: as you are all aware we have completed Lagos – Kano, and it is operational; twice a week people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos.
“We have also recently commenced the operations from Kano to Port Harcourt and Port Harcourt to Gombe. As you are aware, we have some challenges there (Gombe).
“With regard to Abuja – Kaduna in particular, the track has been completely laid.
“We are now waiting for the locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for.
“Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December 2015.“
The permanent secretary said the President endorsed the level of work done and indicated the willingness to continue with a lot of the projects and programmes already ongoing.
“He is really appreciative of the entrepreneurial initiatives of Nigerians and he gave an indication that the government will continue to give its full support,“ he said.
Bashar said the President directed the ministry to pay special attention to the execution of the agreements the ministry had entered into in respect of the railway project.
He said Buhari also emphasised the need to adhere to the terms of the contract agreements entered into by the ministry.
Bashar said he presented to the President the various projects and programmes as well as the reform efforts being undertaken by the ministry especially the railway rehabilitation work and development of the nation’s seaports.
He added that the ministry drew the President’s attention to some of the regulatory issues that were due for review. (NAN)
