The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eastern rail corridor of the country’s ongoing railway modernisation on March 9, 2021.
Ameachi gave the hint during his inspection of all the stations from Mobolaji Johnson Station at Ebuta Metta to Ibadan station.
The minister, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Press of the ministry, Mr. Eric Ejiekwe, noted that the president has also approved the redirecting of the Eastern line to two new spurs namely Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and Awka, Anambra State.
Similarly, the minister stated that the federal government has approved the commencement of the Port Harcourt – Kano rail project and is also negotiating loans for the Lagos – Calabar rail project.
On the takeoff of the Ibadan-Kano rail project, Amaechi stated that the government is still seeking approval for a loan to enable its takeoff.
Speaking on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, Amaechi said that he has challenged Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) to deploy global acceptable safety and security standards for the project.
He directed that central cooling system be installed in all the major train stations along the route. (ThisDay)
