The Federal Government said construction of Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line is 85percent complete and would be ready for commissioning by end of the year.

Nigerian Television Authority on December 1 reported that the Chinese rail construction giant China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) officially rounded off the track laying work of Nigeria’s first standard gauge railway modernization project linking the Federal Capital Territory to the northwestern state of Kaduna.

The rail system had been in comatose for over two decades till 2009 when the implementation of a 25-year Strategic Vision was implemented to revive the sector. It took the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan to commence work on the vision in 2010, when the contract was awarded to CRCC.

The Federal Director of Railways, Engr. Barau Gafar said that the project was initially awarded in 2006 to run from Lagos to Kano. However, government decided to segment it to six parts namely Lagos to Ibadan, Ibadan to Ilorin, Ilorin to Minna, Minna to Abuja, Abuja to Kaduna.

The project was commenced in segments which are Lagos to Ibadan and Abuja to Kaduna.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar said in a ministerial press briefing reported by DailyTrust newspaper, that the railway project commenced in February, 2011 with the laying of about 155km tracks out of the 187.5km rail track distance.

Mr Umar expressed his optimism that his ministry is living up to expectation in developing an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable, integrated transport system.

He revealed that arrangements have been concluded for the purchase of two more locomotives in the first quarter of 2015 to be added to the 25 HP locomotive acquired from General Electric for narrow gauge rail lines and that the construction and rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail line is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2015.

“The rehabilitation work in Eastern line Port Harcourt- Maiduguri (1,657) is progressing steadily with the Port Harcourt-Gombe segment, including the branch line from Kafanchan-Kaduna expected to be completed December, 2014.” He said.
http://www.post-nigeria.com/abuja-and-kaduna-to-be-linked-by-train-in-29-days/

The Project was 84% complete by 2014.

Indeed, some portions of the Abuja rail network have been completed although the entire rail routes must be in place along with the terminal stations before you can claim to have a complete rail system. In spite of this, the advanced level of work done by the contractors ordinarily should have attracted an inspection visit to one of the sites by the President. The FCT Minister has toured and even flagged off the commissioning one of the rail projects a couple of times. He even took a train ride through one of the completed routes. But those who expected President Jonathan to throw in the completed portions of the rail network into his mix of 2015 re-election campaign, were disappointed. He never inspected and never travelled in the Abuja train before the presidential elections, which he lost. He once rode on a train from Lagos to Abeokuta though; in March
http://allafrica.com/stories/201505100098.html

A project was 85% complete as of 2014. By 2015 most portions of it were already completed, enough for the president to take a ride in it. Who deserves the glory? the man that took the project from 0% to almost 95% or the man that just did the 5%?

This nah wash

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N1.1billion for the procurement of two locomotives for mass transportation on Abuja- Kaduna standard gauge rail lines.
The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said at a forum in Abuja recently that the intent of the Federal Government was to guarantee effective mass transportation via railway.
He said that the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail project and others across the country would reposition the nation’s economy for the overall benefits of Nigerians.
He also noted that the Federal Ministry of Transport had also completed track-laying of the project up to Doko, Kaduna State.
Umar said that the fundamental goal of the ministry was to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable integrated transport system.
“This development will be within the framework of a progressive and competitive national and international market economy,’’ he said.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation of more than 90 per cent of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country is ongoing.
He noted that the rehabilitation was the first segment of the 25-year railway strategic vision as part of reforms in the rail sub-sector.
He also said that the rehabilitation of 1,124-kilometre Western Rail Line —Lagos-Kano — had been completed.
“Work on the 1,657-kilometre Eastern Rail Line — Port Harcourt-Maiduguri — is in progress while the branch line from Kafanchan-Kaduna has been completed.
“The contact for Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge had been awarded and work would soon begin,’’ he said.
Umar observed that the Abuja-Kaduna rail project in particular would ease the mass movement of people from the Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, to Kaduna.
He said the government, as part of its ongoing Transformation Agenda, would remain committed to carrying out a lot of modernisation projects to make transportation easier for all Nigerians.
“It is our intention that every state in the country will be connected to rail; every state capital, including major economic corridors and zones, will be fully connected to the rail network,’’ he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr James Li, the Project Manager, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) that handled the project, said that the company had signed an agreement with the Federal Government to construct the Lagos-Abuja high speed rail of 615 kilometres.
He said that the project, when completed, would enable commuters from Abuja to Lagos to reach their destinations within two hours.
“With the construction of the railway, the dream of achieving a seamless transport network as envisaged in the Vision 2020 shall be realised and the construction will substantially improve the wellbeing of Nigerian people,’’ he said.
According to Li, Abuja-Kaduna rail project is the first standard rail road project of the Chinese firm in Nigeria and the entire West Africa which is ready for public use.
The residents of Rigasa in Kaduna State during a ceremony to mark the completion of the track- laying of the Abuja-Kaduna recently, expressed happiness about the project.
Some of them admitted that the Abuja-Kaduna railway would play important roles in promoting economic development in the area.
The train will run from Idu, an industrially-developing area of Abuja, to Rigasa Village of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A resident, simply identified as Abdullahi, said transiting from one place to another in the train would be a greater experience for him, since he had never had such experience as a 30-year old rural dweller.
“That alone is for me a rare privilege. It goes a long way to say that the government has given us hope and boosted the confidence we have in the leaders,’’ he said.
Another resident of the community, Malam Muhammed Musa, said the project would open a window of economic and job opportunities.
“We hope that our youths will continue to benefit from this construction work; no doubt, this project has brought a lot of development to us,’’ he said.
Corroborating this view, Mr Yusuf Danjuma, who is also a resident that had followed the project’s development, stressed that the project would rekindle the hope of the people on government’s transformation agenda.
Observers note that with the rail line, a trip between Abuja and Kaduna rural areas, which is almost three hours by road, can be made within one hour and each passenger train can carry more than 5,000 persons.
They also note that anyone living in Kaduna metropolis will be able reach Abuja between 45 minutes and one hour.
The construction of the 186.5-kilometre rail line began in 2011 at the total cost of 850 million dollars.
Observers, therefore, opine that with the railway modernisation initiative in Nigeria, it will replace the existing narrow gauge system with the wider standard gauge for effective rail transportation system.

http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/2015/03/boosting-transportation-via-abuja-kaduna-rail-project/

The project was already opened for public use as of march 2015, according to the contractor.

sarrki:
This nah wash

I have provided a lot of sources sir and would be ready to provide you with more. APC should understand that the time for propaganda is way past. They should sit down and do the work we voted them to do.

Right now, all they have being doing is regurgitating GEJ's schemes and project.

following

The president confirmed that the administration had just completed the tracks for the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway. Moreover, “plans have reached an advanced stage for a new rail line from Lagos to Calabar and another between Ibadan and Lagos”.

He plans to link every commercial and administrative capital in Nigeria by rail.

http://tan.org.ng/blog/?p=914

cc lalasticala.

GEJ completed the this project since 2015. APC Should stop lying to us.

It was all Gej's work.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDS7VmZYMcU

PapaBaby:
It was all Gej's work.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDS7VmZYMcU

APC Should tell us exactly what they did on this project, and how much they spent doing it.

May another man not take the shine off our sweat.

Amen.

I rather thank obasanjo who initiated the project and pmb who finished it

good

Lalasticlala here's your chance to be fair

shachris02:


APC Should tell us exactly what they did on this project, and how much they spent doing it.

May another man not take the shine off our sweat.

Amen.

Amen my brother

Wailers and lies are one and the same.

Is 85% completion? Why did he not commission 85% of the work, Moreover, OBJ started rail reforms, Yar Adua made it a cardinal point of his programme and your Hero walked into an on-going project. Yet, he could not complete it within a duration of over 5years. PMB came and completed it and that is what history will record, while giving credit of foresight to OBJ and continuity to Yar Adua and GEJ.

When he was commissioning all the IPPs OBJ started, did you not tell us it is he who completes a project that should be credited?

Abeg look for another project that your Hero, the mandela of Otuoke started and completed.

gwales:
I rather thank obasanjo who initiated the project and pmb who finished it

Did you read the @OP article?

superstar1:
Wailers and lies are one and the same.

Is 85% completion? Why did he not commission 85% of the work, Moreover, OBJ commenced the project.

When he was commissioning all the IPPs OBJ started, did you not tell us it is he who completes a project that should be credited?

Abeg look for another project that your Hero, the mandela of Otuoke started and completed.

Ignorance is bliss.

gwales:
I rather thank obasanjo who initiated the project and pmb who finished it

Zombies would rather die than acknowledge GEJ. Give the man his credit when he's deserves it bro.

GEJ DID 99% if not 100% of the work here.

APC stopped Gej to commissioned the project since he was the one that completed it right?

2015 election hangover dey worry you

Op Gej completed the project and he didn't bother commission it?I don't know what is wrong with all these Gej supporters its been over one year the election was conducted yet,election defeat fever nv still leave una.

Let us all stop this biko. Even the devil/ Buhari/ APC knows the truth.
So don't take their joke too serious for your own good.

superstar1:
Wailers and lies are one and the same.

Is 85% completion? Why did he not commission 85% of the work, Moreover, OBJ started rail reforms, Yar Adua made it a cardinal point of his programme and your Hero walked into an on-going project. Yet, he could not complete it within a duration of over 5years. PMB came and completed it and that is what history will record, while giving credit of foresight to OBJ and continuity to Yar Adua and GEJ.

When he was commissioning all the IPPs OBJ started, did you not tell us it is he who completes a project that should be credited?

Abeg look for another project that your Hero, the mandela of Otuoke started and completed.

85% complete as of 2014 sir. Completed February 2015.

shachris02:


85% complete as of 2014 sir. Completed February 2015.

What stopped the Mandela of Otuoke from commissioning if truly it has been completed or he was just being the IB he is renowned for,

How will he not commission a worthy project of that calibre, with election around teh corner.

Bros, tell your lies to Kindergarten toddlers.

gwales:
I rather thank obasanjo who initiated the project and pmb who finished it

Jonathan took it from 0%, awarded the contract and completed the tracks and most stations. The test-run took effect in March 2015 while some bureaucratic setups was the only thing remaining.

If I may remind you, Obasanjo also initiated the 2nd Niger Bridge at the same time but never awarded the contract nor funded any of those projects.

superstar1:
Wailers and lies are one and the same.

Is 85% completion? Why did he not commission 85% of the work, Moreover, OBJ started rail reforms, Yar Adua made it a cardinal point of his programme and your Hero walked into an on-going project. Yet, he could not complete it within a duration of over 5years. PMB came and completed it and that is what history will record, while giving credit of foresight to OBJ and continuity to Yar Adua and GEJ.

When he was commissioning all the IPPs OBJ started, did you not tell us it is he who completes a project that should be credited?

Abeg look for another project that your Hero, the mandela of Otuoke started and completed.

I just tire for all these Gej supporters. There is this Abuja light rail project that has been ongoing since the year 2005,if pmb commissions it tomorrow they will say Gej started and completed the project.

GEJ was going about re-commissioning already commissioned projects before election but he had such a huge project like this that he could have commissioned but didn't because ... Anyway I think we should just be happy that this project is now reality. Lets forget who initiated it or completed it or who it passed through, lets just celebrate this and hope more projects like these are commissioned in due time.

superstar1:


What stopped the Mandela of Otuoke from commissioning if truly it has been completed or he was just being the IB he is renowned for.

Jonathan also wrote that one of his Facebook followers, Oraye St. Franklyn, had taken a ride on the Port Harcourt-Enugu service of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and sent him photos.

“He expressed his delight as a parent that his children had entered a train in Nigeria for the first time in their lives,” the president wrote.

The president confirmed that the administration had just completed the tracks for the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway. Moreover, “plans have reached an advanced stage for a new rail line from Lagos to Calabar and another between Ibadan and Lagos”.

He plans to link every commercial and administrative capital in Nigeria by rail.

GEJ had a goal. He wanted to first complete this task before commissioning. The sooner he is completing one rail project, he's starting the next one. what the joy of commission every single mushroom project when the ultimate goal has not being reached?

Jorussia:
I just tire for all these Gej supporters. There is this Abuja light rail project that has been ongoing since the year 2005,if pmb commissions it tomorrow they will say Gej started and completed the project.

They will do anything to portray their corrupt Hero in good light.

MadamExcellency:


Jonathan took it from 0%, awarded the contract and completed the tracks and most stations. The test-run took effect in March 2015 while some bureaucratic setups was the only thing remaining.

If I may remind you, Obasanjo also initiated the 2nd Niger Bridge at the same time but never awarded the contract nor funded any of those projects.

GEJ also completed the 2nd Niger Bridge like the Abuja-Kaduna rail line?

shachris02:


I have provided a lot of sources sir and would be ready to provide you with more. APC should understand that the time for propaganda is way past. They should sit down and do the work we voted them to do.

Right now, all they have being doing is regurgitating GEJ's schemes and project.

Help me ask the mad fool if Buhari's padded budget has been implemented for giant project like railway

shachris02:
GEJ had a goal. He wanted to first complete this task before commissioning. The sooner he is completing one rail project, he's starting the next one. what the joy of commission every single mushroom project when the ultimate goal has not being reached?

Sincerely, stop sounding like the IB himself.

All projects were not awarded at the same time and therefore they will be completed and commissioned at different times.

Election was around the corner and he could not even commission a worthy project that you are claiming has been completed. Says a lot about him and how strategic he is.

Bros, reset your thoughts.

Once again #ThankYouGEJ we really missed you

OrlandoOwoh:

GEJ also completed the 2nd Niger Bridge like the Abuja-Kaduna rail line?

Mark my words, whenever the 2NB is completed, they will tell us their Hero has already completed 99% of the project before he left.

Jokers.

shachris02:


I have provided a lot of sources sir and would be ready to provide you with more. APC should understand that the time for propaganda is way past. They should sit down and do the work we voted them to do.

Right now, all they have being doing is regurgitating GEJ's schemes and project.

Let say what they like, we know they haven't done anything, the calabar-lagos railway line has been forgotten, instead Amaechi wants to take glory for someone else's work.