WHEN in February, the Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola announced that the first phase of the Lagos Blue line Rail project being executed by the state government would be completed in June, he raised the hope of many Lagos residents of a free movement within the city, devoid of hectic time in traffic. This is because many residents had been waiting patiently for the completion of the project, which they had seen over and over through the prototype advertised in various sections of the route.
The first line under execution is the Blue line, which is the National Theatre-Okokomaiko lane, programmed to be executed in two phases by the appointed contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). So the Governor, while flagging off the laying on track at the Orile end in February, had said that the first phase of the Blue line from Mile Two to National Theatre would be completed in June. The contract includes the basic design and construction of the rail infrastructure. The Blue line, from Marina to Okokomaiko originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2011 was postponed to 2012 and has now been further stretched to 2015 due to funding issues according to the state government.

June has ended and the first phase of the Blue Line is not yet near completion if what The Guardian observed is anything to go by. This is because the contractor, CCECC, is still doing concrete work on the project site. If it is nearing completion, it would probably be doing the finishing of the project but that is not. The laying of rail track has been done from Orile to Alaba. From Alaba to Mile Two, the contractor is still preparing to lay the track. It is not only that, a big drainage is still being constructed in Mile Two while the pedestrian bridges to link the stations in Mile Two, Alaba and Orile are still under construction. This means the train stations had not been completed. From what was observed, there would be four stations on the National Theatre-Mile Two Route: National Theatre, Orile, Alaba and Mile Two stations. At the time of filing this report, none had been completed, though three had reached advanced stage in terms of work done.

Illegal tollgates

The Lagos State Government had said that it would toll the road when completed but even before the road is completed tollgates had been introduced. There are about six tollgates. Five of the tollgates are between Doyin Bus Stop and School Junction, with mainly CCECC staff manning each of the tollgates collecting money from motorists. The activities at the Doyin Gate often add to the hectic traffic on the Orile end when driving to Orile from the National Theatre. This is because some of the motorists, especially commercial bus drivers often engage these CCECC staff in argument which delay the process of driving through. The drivers are required to part with N50 each time they drive through the toll gate, but many are not willing to pay, resulting in argument with the CCEECC staff who will refuse to open the gate for them to drive through.

Another tollgate is at Mile two managed by the NURTW. A section of the culvert was crudely carved out to allow for vehicles to link the Service lane at Mile Two Oke from the Mile two motor park instead of driving to the Total Filling State before linking the Service Lane.

Comment on the project

Speaking on the rail project, Mr. Ade Isaac, a resident of Ojo Road, prays for the project to be completed on time. When he heard that Fashola announced that the first phase between National Theatre and Mile-two would be completed in June, he was happy and felt that the CCECC would speed up its work by working round the clock. He said that two weeks after the statement from Fashola and the contractor still maintained its work schedule; he concluded that it was just another political statement from politicians who like playing to the gallery and telling the citizens lies.

“This is because the amount of work I saw yet to be concluded then was not what could be completed within five months though I am not an engineer. But I have been justified as the work is still far from being completed.

“But it seems the contractor is too slow in executing the project as if it is the first time they are doing such a project. It will however be great if the project is completed before the end of the year.”

Government’s position

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said that the delay could be due to non approval of the World Bank loan by the Federal Government. But when he was told that the contractor had been working on a daily basis since the governor made the pronouncement, he suggested that the reporter should get in touch with LAMATA for better insight for the failure of the June completion date.

“Let me draw your attention to the fact that when he said that he also mentioned that all these will be subject to availability of funds. So if the World Bank loan is still being held up by the Federal Government and there are still issues, definitely it would be impossible to do magic.”

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, did not pick the several calls made to his lines and did not return them but Mrs Angela Olanrewaju, the External Relations Manager of the body called back after a text was sent to the MD.



Next >
Author of this article: By Gbenga Salau


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126283:why-first-phase-of-lagos-rail-project-fell-behind-&catid=174:newsfeature&Itemid=701

One of a kind project like these will always run into all sorts of problem.

Why wont he run out of cash when Tinubu is still alive. Has he finish giving Tinubu and his iyaloja lagos state allocation? Story story! E be like them want to tell us another story again, e be like they want to do another decieving again, e be like say them want to sing another song again! Another avenue for fashola to go get loan from china like the 600million dollars he they gave him late last year. Choi! more money for Tinubu and iyaloja! Life is good if your like Tinubu who is the god of the southwest.

While I do not subscribe to the tolling of an uncompleted project,I believe its probably due to the non loan approval by the FG
With all Lagos has on its plate for now,loans are about the most sensible way to go
Infrastructure costs money only that the LASG most be more open to the people she governs about her debt profile

this is a big lie, am passing their as am writing this. a lot of progress has been made and the railroad almost ready.why hype falsehood?

geeez:

Obviously you didn't read the post before commenting

The most important thing is that work is still going in at a frantic pace

Eko o ni baje

Yorubaland o ni baje

why are you attacking me? i am from Fashola's school of competent governance.i am only saying the obvious that you always expect time or cost overruns on such gigantic projects.
work is still ongoing on the site but you can expect some inconvenience from the rainy season.
Also the federal government seem to be sabotaging the state's effort.Instead of owning it and playing support so that they can claim some of the glory.Maybe they would have preferred if the worldbank loan was used to pay salary like they do in abuja.

4bobo: this is a big lie, am passing their as am writing this. a lot of progress has been made and the railroad almost ready.why hype falsehood?

Pictures?? There is no better way to silence the never do wells!

4bobo: this is a big lie, am passing their as am writing this. a lot of progress has been made and the railroad almost ready.why hype falsehood?

silence the OP by showing us pictures or we will assume you are typing this from Alausa.