The Federal Government may have achieved some milestones in its efforts to turn around the nation’s transport sector, going by a 61-page document presented recently to the Federal Executive Council.
The development is expected to be further facilitated by a major part of the $1.1 billion (N160 billion) low interest loan recently secured by the government from China.
Specifically, the rail sector in particular and inter-modal transport scheme would be given priority under the programme.
The 61-page document stated that the rehabilitation of over 90 per cent of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country is ongoing and at various stages of completion.
The rehabilitation, according to it, is the first segment of the 25-year railway strategic vision.
The document revealed that the contract for the rehabilitation of Apapa port railway network and signal works, made up of double track of 1.5 kilometre each, was executed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) with a sum of N860.7 million and completed last November.
Also, the main Western line of Lagos-Kano, comprising 1,124 kilometres, is now completed, while the 1,657 Eastern line, that is Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, is expected to be completed before the end of this year.
The rehabilitation of mainline from Ebute Metta junction to Apapa local station by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is now completed, while the sidings are in the process of being rehabilitated.
Other rehabilitation/upgrading works that are either completed or ongoing include 488-kilometre Lagos-Jebba gauge line awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited at a sum of N12.3 billion, which is now 100 per cent completed; 636-kilometre Jebba-Kano, awarded to Costain West Africa Limited for N12.2 billion (98 per cent); 1,657-kilometre Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, awarded at N5.6 billion to Ansaldo A3 and O Limited (25 per cent); 463-kilometre Port Harcourt-Makurdi, awarded to Eser Contracting West Africa at N19.9 (42 per cent) and 554-kilometre Makurdi-Kaduna, awarded at N24.5 billion to CGGC (32 per cent).
Others include 640-kilometre Kuru-Maiduguri track lines, awarded to Lingo at N23.7 (15 per cent); 221-kilometre Zaria-Kaura Namoda, awarded to Duluidas at N3.2 (41 per cent) and supervision of all the 3,002 railway track rehabilitation projects awarded to Roughton International at N1.5 billion (63 per cent).



Within the period under review, the administration procured 25 new locomotives from General Electric and refurbished 366 coaches and wagons.
Twenty oil tank wagons were procured January last year; five railroad emergency vehicles in March, and 60 tons overhead workshop cranes in November.
Three rail inspection vehicles were expected last March, whereas four new locomotives are expected to be delivered next month; two sets of diesel multiple unit capacity of 540 passengers each by December and six modern air-conditioned coaches with capacity of 68 seaters each, also in December.
The scheme also saw an investment incentive memorandum of understanding signed between General Electric and the Federal Government for upgrading and development of a multi-modal locomotives assembly facility in the country to handle an initial target assembly of 200 locomotives, over 10 years, under a special country to company relationship.
Jonathan, as part of the sector revamp programme, granted approval for the remodeling and redevelopment of major railway stations to incorporate modern commercial outlets under public private partnership arrangement.
The stations to benefit from the remodeling programme are Iddo terminal station, Ebute Metta junction station, Ilorin station, Kaduna junction station, Kano station, Port Harcourt station, Enugu station, Jos station and Gombe station.
Under modernisation programme, 274-kilometre Itakpe-Ajaokuta – Warri, awarded at a sum of N33.1 billion to Julius Berger Plc and TEAM Nig Ltd as consultant, is 77 per cent completed with track work done.
A sum of N23.7 billion has already been paid for the product. Also, the 1,342.50-kilometre Lagos – Kano original contract awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited with TEAM Nigeria Limited as consultant at $8.3 billion is segmented.
Under the segmentation, 187-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna is ongoing and 65 per cent completed. It was awarded at a sum of $874 million including consultancy fee of $24.6 million. The 180-kilometre Lagos -Ibadan was awarded at $1.530 billion.
However, the 200-kilometre Ibadan-Ilorin, 270-kilometre Ilorin-Minna, 145-kilometre Minna to Abuja and 360-kilometre Minna-Kano standard gauge lines are yet to be awarded.
But, the Jonathan-led administration has commissioned consultants to conduct feasibility studies in respect of new standard gauge rail lines.
The reports of the studies, which will consist of outline business case, are to be made available to potential investors for consideration.
The lines for which the feasibility studies are to be undertaken are 300-kilometre Lagos-Benin rail line, high speed 615-kilometre Lagos-Abuja, 533 kilometre Ajaokuta to Otukpo, 520-kilometre Zaria-Benin Koni, 500-kilometre Benin-Aba, 280-kilometre Eganyi-Abuja and 673-kilometre Benin-Obudu cattle ranch.
Studies for Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, Ikom-Maiduguri, Kano-Ngala, Kano-Jibya and Illela-Makera are to commence this year. http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=15530

okay...will it get to my house

Fresh air all d way
;

d story long ooo....but if its really gonna happen its a great idea so goods frrom seaport could easily b transported

Rubbish,i have not seen any new train even though i live in railway station in minna,the only one i see on weekly basis is a colonial type nothing new,all these mention in the post above by the op is only and always done on the pages of news papers,,if there is anything new am in good position to see it cos there is no train that can get to kaduna without passing through minna,this is politics

frankels: okay...will it get to my house

yes... even to your room.. Dekpe!!

scipher: yes... even to your room.. Dekpe!!

and dat'll b dangerous.

pls has NRC recruited? cos if indeed dis story is true dey wil really nid more wkforce.