Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s preparedness to complete the Abuja-Kaduna railway modernisation project by the end of year 2014.
The Minister gave the assurance shortly after an inspection of the Idu to Jere section of the project along Kaduna State on Friday.
He said the project is on course and explained that all necessary support required by the contractors handling the project have been provided by the Federal Government in order to ensure that the December 2014 deadline is met.
Senator Umar who expressed satisfaction over the work done so far pointed out that it is part of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda in the Transport Sector to reposition the country’s railways by developing standard gauge rail lines. He said: “This particular project and other projects in other sectors of the economy spread across the country are the testimonies of the fact that Mr. President has transformed the country”.
According to him the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line is very strategic to Nigeria as a country and to the Government in particular. “We are achieving a very huge milestone in the development of modern transport system in Nigeria”, the Minister noted.
He further disclosed that the rail corridor is about 72% complete and work is going on assiduously, adding that the major structural works are almost completed. “You can see that the work is going on assiduously. The bridges are almost completed as well as the culverts and over pass bridges among others”, Umar said.
On the challenges facing the projects , the Minister informed that efforts are been made to ensure that the two major constraints which include water interference at kilometer 19 and certain estate built along the rail lines at Kubwa are being addressed by the relevant authorities in the Federal Capital Territory.
During the inspection, the Minister and Permanent Secretary in the Transport Ministry, Engr. Nebolisa Emodi took a train ride from Idu to Gwagwa Karimu. They were accompanied by the Director of Rail and Mass Transit in the Ministry, Engr. Gafar Bature, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Oluwaseyi Sijuade and other top officials in the ministry among others.
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