The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has given assurances that the Warri – Ajaokuta standard gauge rail line will be completed by March, next year. He stated this after he carried out an inspection tour of the project last weekend.
The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has given assurances that the Warri – Ajaokuta standard gauge rail line will be completed by March, next year. He stated this after he carried out an inspection tour of the project last weekend.
The Minister had visited the rail project starting from Warri and took a ride by train up to Agbor. After the inspection, Senator Umar expressed satisfaction with the work done so far, adding that government was making efforts to address the financial constraints which have been the fundamental issue militating against the speedy completion of the project.
Senator Umar was later received at the Agbor terminal by the Obi of Owa kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor. The Obi urged him to ensure that the work is finished on time to decongest the roads and bring life to the rail routes.
The project coordinator who is also a Division Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria, Mr. Guido Abel had stated that the biggest obstacle to the realization of the project is funding and expressed hoped that government will make necessary funds available for its completion.
The Warri-Ajaokuta rail line which is 276 kilometers long was conceived in 1987 to carry steel products and raw materials from Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Warri, but it was later abandoned after about 254 kilometers had been done due to funding constraints.
The project was resuscitated in 2009 and is slated for completion in March 2013. It will now carry passengers as well as freight. From Warri, the train is expected to pass through Itakpe, Akaokuta, Agbor, Warri and Ore with 6 stations in between.
On the entourage of the minister were the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Engineer Nebolisa Emodi, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Engineer Adeseyi Sijuwade, aides of the Minister as well as Ministry officials.
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