Nigerians who often feel unsafe in Nigeria’s airspace and yet cannot endure a nine-hour road trip between Lagos and Abuja, have received cheery news from the federal government who announced the planned take-off of a three-hour high-speed train project between the two cities.

Announcing this in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed the federal government’s partnership arrangements with private firms within and outside Nigeria towards the commencement of the project.

Umar made this disclosure at the public presentation of a book, “Showcasing Goodluck Jonathan’s Monumental Strides: A Third Party Perspective,” authored by the Director-General of Citizens Network For Peace and Development in Nigeria, Mr. Dressmann Preye.

According to Umar who also said the Abuja-Kaduna rail project would commence full operation next month, the federal government equally carried out a number of feasibility studies with the plan to construct more standard gauge lines across the country.

He disclosed that the government had also successfully completed feasibility studies in seven new corridors including, the Abuja-Lagos high speed train adding that different private firms within and outside Nigeria have expressed interests in the project. The project, largely expected to be private sector-driven, according Umar, would formally take-off in 2018,

“The consultants who carried out the feasibility studies have submitted their reports. Part of the report contains the involvement of the private sector to drive the project. This is because we want to develop these lines under a public, private partnership arrangements.

“We have already received a lot of expression of interests even ahead of advertisement for the purpose from various companies in the country and indeed, in other countries of the world.

“The idea is that, if we have this in place, the trains can move from Abuja to Lagos and from Lagos to Abuja in a maximum of three hours. We are intending to compete favourably with other transportation systems in carrying passengers from Abuja to Lagos.

“When fully actualised, a train will leave Abuja to Lagos and Lagos to Abuja, every hour. The feasibility studies had been completed, it is not a question of story. The trains will start running within the next three years, say by 2018.”

He further explained that the federal government had completed the rehabilitation of western rail lines through the administration’s revivalist strategy in the rail transport sector, insisting that Jonathan’s government is working towards the completion of the eastern line.

He said: “At the moment, the trains are moving from Port Harcourt all the way to Gombe - a distance of over 1, 000 kilometres but as soon as the security situation improves around Borno State, we will complete the line from Gombe to Maiduguri.

“While that is going on, we have constructed the standard gauge from Abuja to Kaduna. We have completed the laying of the track and very soon, President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate it and by March this year, we are going to commence full operation on that line.

“We have placed orders for the procurement of locomotives and coaches that we are going to deploy on the track. It is a standard gauge. The trains can move on an average speed of 150 kilometres per hour.

“That means that in a maximum of one and half hours, you can leave Kaduna for Abuja and from Abuja to Kaduna by rail. It is the first standard gauge to be completed fully in the whole of West Africa.”

He used the forum to drum support campaign for the re-election of the president for another term of four years, saying his re-election, would offer him the full fledged opportunity to complete the projects in the works.


Also speaking at the occasion, Preye, the author of the book, said the contents were drawn by a team of independent media practitioners as well as representatives of civil society organisations whom he said carried out an on-the-spot assessment of all projects executed by Jonathan’s government.

“I am convinced that this book, will serve not only as a research material but also, a proof that the transformation agenda is working and is yielding fruits,” he claimed.

In his submission, the book reviewer, Dr. Casimir Anyanwu, accompanied by his wife, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the book embodied the landmark achievements of Jonathan’s government in 15 critical sectors of the economy.

Such areas where he said federal government’s footprints had been visible were macro-economic management strategies; trade and Investment policies; infrastructure development; agricultural transformation; oil and gas industry reforms; power and renewable energy; education and health reforms, among others.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-unveils-take-off-of-high-speed-train-from-abuja-to-lagos/201012/

I will do, we will do, we plan to, I vow to, we are looking into it, a committee will be set up, etc.

No matter how good-intention Jonathan is, he will continue to fail as long as he cannot fight corruption. He himself is corrupt and as such got no balls to fight it.


Well, GEJ has tried in the transportation sector, I will give him a C.

Modified*

Project(s) inconclusive. Almost every project completion is always in future tense. Why?

They should wait till nomalcy returned to thr trouble Northern State b4 they start this.We don't want BURNING TRAIN here/transport of terrosist to LAGOS

Nigeria and Mexico approached China for credit facility to rebuild their railway systems (and other infrastructures). They both got the credits.
Look at what each country did with the money.
Are you not being short changed?
Don't you deserve Better?

PDP generated 4,000 MW @ $32.4bn in 16yrs while China Generated 22,500 MW @ $26bn

#SayNoToCorruption
#ThingsMustChange

modified

PassingShot:
I will, we will, we plan to, etc.

Well, GEJ has tried in the transportation sector. I will give him a C.

Nawa o!

PassingShot:
I will, we will, we plan to, etc.

Well, GEJ has tried in the transportation sector. I will give him a C.

Your type is not needed in the classroom cos of your sadism.

Danhumprey:
Project(s) inconclusive. Almost every project completion is always in future tense. Why?

shut up! GEJ has done perfectly well in the transportation industry..even the dude above you confirmed it. Give the man some credit and stop all dese nonsense

i go do coma c alagbado to ido tran is working fashola never complain

liberty300:
shut up! GEJ has done perfectly well in the transportation industry..even the dude above you confirmed it. Give the man some credit and stop all dese nonsense

Smh.

spott:
Nigeria and Mexico approached China for credit facility to rebuild their railway systems (and other infrastructures). They both got the credits.
Look at what each country did with the money.
Are you not being short changed?
Don't you deserve Better?

go and ask raji fashola and his moribund and fraudulent light rail project that question. Also ask amechi and his fraudulent 19 billion naira loan that he coaxed the state assembly to approve. Maybe you also want to ask him to give account of how he spent d money.

And do not forget to ask fashola why lagos is the most corrupt state in Nigeria in 2014.

The change apc is preaching is fake.

bewla:
i go do coma c alagbado to ido tran is working fashola never complain

fashola promised to deliver light rail project about 2 yrs ago. This is 2015. Yet, there is no light rail. Apc is as bad as pdp.

Really cool, we're getting there.

spott:
Nigeria and Mexico approached China for credit facility to rebuild their railway systems (and other infrastructures). They both got the credits.
Look at what each country did with the money.
Are you not being short changed?
Don't you deserve Better?

GEJ administration is the most corrupt Nigeria has ever had!!
can't wait for him to be kicked out tho!!

fake project from fake government

great

[size=20pt] a crippled mans only prayer will be to be able to walk first before thinking of running
for many years our railway system have been crippled and we should be grateful that at least we can now walk before thinking of light speed rails

4years ago there is no possible and cheap way to transport stuff north to south and there was increase pressure on our roads no thanks to the accident causing large vehicle. now the trains back and we busy comparing ourselfs with mexico

life is in stages and we must give ourselves the chance to grow

only if you can walk can you think of running [/size]

Hmm

Raaaawbish

gud development

The only thing our VP know how to do
Probably his only assignment in Aso Rock
*GEJ CALLS HIS VICE*
I have assignment for u.
*SAMBO REPLIES *
Where are we launching a train initiative sir.
SMH for Clueness & Brainless Governance
#Sai Buhari
#Sai Osinbajo
No to VP
#Change is here

Okay, I wont comment until a neutral person comes here to give a testimony. So much propaganda these days.

Jonathan is working...
If u are against his second tenure, pack out of naija n return 2019..

GEJ till Nnaemeka can pronounce "Parallelogram".

Last minute rush to save face why did they wait for so long? had it been this & many others has been initiated & executed 2years ago GEJ would have woo so many electorates & have a easy ride to second term but now it kinda late.

congrats to them and their family

Not impressed

Welcome development!!!

Jona, sell one of your jets na, and build something better

spott:
Nigeria and Mexico approached China for credit facility to rebuild their railway systems (and other infrastructures). They both got the credits.
Look at what each country did with the money.
Are you not being short changed?
Don't you deserve Better?

Please stop misleading people, that picture was taken in China not Mexico....

Good One!!
Nigeria is moving.
GEJ is working.

GEJ till 2019