Nigeria’s planned western rail line to cover 9 states
Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation said Nigeria’s planned rail line would cover the western corridor of the country traversing nine states, including Abuja spanning a total of 1,402 kilometer.
June 25, 2018: Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation said Nigeria’s planned rail line would cover the western corridor of the country traversing nine states, including Abuja spanning a total of 1,402 kilometer.
At China-Africa Transportation convention in Beijing, under the theme, ‘Better Transportation, Better World,’ Amaechi said the project is estimated to be completed within three years if the loan agreement with China EXIM Bank for co-financing is met as expected. On the Lagos-Kano railway project awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) and co-financed by China EXIM Bank, he said the project would serve as an important distribution corridor between the major sea port of Lagos and the hinterlands.
He further added that the investment and partnering were imperative in the country’s cooperation with China, to strengthen Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and towards building a competitive economy. Nigeria is also partnering with other private sector investors, foreign and domestic, including the consortium led by the United States General Electric.
The ministry of transportation recently signed the commercial contract for the remaining 901 kilometer Ibadan to Kano stretch and the associated branch lines from Oshogbo to Ado Ekiti, South West Nigeria following the completion of the first segment of the Abuja – Kaduna railway project of 186.5 kilometer.
