Photograph — Journal du cameroun

The federal government of Nigeria disclosed that the Ibadan-Kano railway will be completed in 2023. According to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the project will be finished before the president of Nigeria, Muhammed Buhari leaves office that same year.

Currently, the ministry of transportation is waiting for the mobilization of funds by the ministry of finance. Already contracts have been awarded amongst other logistics by the transportation ministry.

The proposed rail project aims at connecting the Northwest to the Southwestern part of Nigeria which will facilitate the movement of people and increase food supply to both sides of the region especially in Lagos, where food prices are high. With more efficient transportation, the prices may become more favourable to habitants.

In addition, Amaechi spoke on the delay of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, stating that the urban landscape of Lagos state provoked the project delay. The existing structures required expertise to avoid damage to the city power and oil supply. In order to address this, the government had to consult with engineering companies.

The minister of transportation said, “As a result of this “we brought another company that can find the solution of how to build on those pipes without causing damage because one of the problems with those pipes is that once it is not properly done, the whole of Lagos will be gone.”

“We have to put enough engineering to protect those pipe and oil that they carry so that we don’t have an explosion,” Amaechi added.

The government remains committed to developing infrastructure nationwide, as this is believed to be the key to industrialization while easing everyday life affairs for the average man. In 2017, Nigeria invested $41 billion in rail transportation.  

The minister also spoke on Russian support for the Nigerian railway project, saying the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Buhari reached an agreement for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar rail line during Buhari’s visit to Russia in October last year. He believes the estimated cost of the project by Russian firms will be cheaper than the Chinese quotation.

Freight falling is a major issue in road transportation across Nigeria, this has led to the loss of commodities and even human lives. One of the major problems in the commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos is accidents caused by falling cargos on highways. Railway lines can significantly reduce the movement of cargos via road networks, making commuting safer for all road users and even reduce the cost of business operations.

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