Respite in sight as Abuja light rail nears completion .
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 00:00 TUNJI OLAWUNI

The road traffic gridlock in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is becoming a nightmare for residents. The problem is further compounded by expansion work on major highways leading to the city centre. For residents of satellite towns like Kubwa, Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu, Lugbe, Gwarinpa, going to work or returning, has not been smooth.

Many residents have had to put up with hours of waiting on long queues because of the traffic bottlenecks. To redress the chaotic traffic situation, the administration of former minister of FCT, Adamu Ailero, came up with the idea of light rail in 2009. The light rail which is expected to link the city was billed to terminate at the famous Eagle Square, in the centre of the city.

Since the idea was mooted, however, not much has been heard about the project, thus leaving residents to doubt the good intention of government.

Though the FCT administration gave end of 2010 as take off date for the test run of the rail, residents waited in vain with no sign of progress. This was what prompted the newly inaugurated Senate Committee on FCT, headed by second term senator, Smart Adeyemi, to lead other members of the committee to pay on- the-spot visit to the headquarters of the FCT, to ascertain the true situation of the project.

Though Adeyemi was a member of the committee in the last Senate, he felt he did not have much say in the matter unlike now that he is at the helm of affairs, as chairman.

Last week, Adeyemi and members of the committee took a three-hour tour of the light rail corridor from the Ministry of Finance Estate through Idu, where the Chinese company handling the project has its sight for producing all the materials needed for the completion of the rail. Unknown to the residents, work on the project had advanced and from the briefing the committee got, test run of the light rail would commence this year’s December.

The federal lawmakers were taking through the corridors which already had laid tracks for the first phase of the rail. CityFile discovered on the tour that two locomotive engines were on sight awaiting coaches for the test run. It was also noticed that the company has in stock huge pile of rail tracks, which could speed up the completion of the project in near future.

The committee members were able to see firsthand transfer of technology to Nigerians, as young girls and boys mounted various operating machines where equipment for the rail was produced. The committee chairman told CityFile after the tour that “the light rail is a reality from what we have seen. I was part of the committee that visited the site last year.

“I am very satisfied with the level of progress on the sight, and hopefully the project will take off on schedule. Our people have suffered in an attempt to get to work. As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that we alleviate the sufferings of the poor masses and this light rail is one of the measures government is working out to address that.”

He said the committee had directed the FCT administration to revoke the licence granted six transport operators who after collecting the licence have failed to deliver.

He said “there are competent operators that have the resources to deliver, and we think there is no reason why some people would be granted licences and they would not perform. The committee would not tolerate that type of situation and we have told the officials in charge.”

From what is now on ground and with the assurance by the Chinese company handling the light rail, residents can begin to heave sighs of relief from the end of this year as the test run of the project comes on stream.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/city-file/city-file/28950-respite-in-sight-as-abuja-light-rail-nears-completion

This is bread and butter journalism!

johnie:

Respite in sight as Abuja light rail nears completion .

The road traffic gridlock in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is becoming a nightmare for residents. The problem is further compounded by expansion work on major highways leading to the city centre. For residents of satellite towns like Kubwa, Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu, Lugbe, Gwarinpa, going to work or returning, has not been smooth.

Many residents have had to put up with hours of waiting on long queues because of the traffic bottlenecks.

Doesn't the heading say that the project is nearing completion? How come the gridlock is "becoming a nightmare?"

johnie:

To redress the chaotic traffic situation, the administration of former minister of FCT, Adamu Ailero, came up with the idea of light rail in 2009. The light rail which is expected to link the city was billed to terminate at the famous Eagle Square, in the centre of the city.

Since the idea was mooted, however, not much has been heard about the project, thus leaving residents to doubt the good intention of government.

Though the FCT administration gave end of 2010 as take off date for the test run of the rail, residents waited in vain with no sign of progress. This was what prompted the newly inaugurated Senate Committee on FCT, headed by second term senator, Smart Adeyemi, to lead other members of the committee to pay on- the-spot visit to the headquarters of the FCT, to ascertain the true situation of the project.

Though Adeyemi was a member of the committee in the last Senate, he felt he did not have much say in the matter unlike now that he is at the helm of affairs, as chairman.

Last week, Adeyemi and members of the committee took a three-hour tour of the light rail corridor from the Ministry of Finance Estate through Idu, where the Chinese company handling the project has its sight for producing all the materials needed for the completion of the rail. Unknown to the residents, work on the project had advanced and from the briefing the committee got, test run of the light rail would commence this year’s December.

Is this about the incompetence or inabiliy of Ailero to complete the project he started, about Adeyemi not being able to speak when he was a member of the committee, or a way of showing us that Adeyemi is the "action man" who would bring respite to the residents of Abuja?

johnie:

The federal lawmakers were taking through the corridors which already had laid tracks for the first phase of the rail. CityFile discovered on the tour that two locomotive engines were on sight awaiting coaches for the test run. It was also noticed that the company has in stock huge pile of rail tracks, which could speed up the completion of the project in near future.

The committee members were able to see firsthand transfer of technology to Nigerians, as young girls and boys mounted various operating machines where equipment for the rail was produced. The committee chairman told CityFile after the tour that “the light rail is a reality from what we have seen. I was part of the committee that visited the site last year.

“I am very satisfied with the level of progress on the sight, and hopefully the project will take off on schedule. Our people have suffered in an attempt to get to work. As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that we alleviate the sufferings of the poor masses and this light rail is one of the measures government is working out to address that.”

He said the committee had directed the FCT administration to revoke the licence granted six transport operators who after collecting the licence have failed to deliver.

He said “there are competent operators that have the resources to deliver, and we think there is no reason why some people would be granted licences and they would not perform. The committee would not tolerate that type of situation and we have told the officials in charge.”

From what is now on ground and with the assurance by the Chinese company handling the light rail, residents can begin to heave sighs of relief from the end of this year as the test run of the project comes on stream.

This kind of "report" which reads like a report from the committee chairman himself makes one doubt the sincereity of the lawmakers in carrying out their oversight functions!

Where is that name and shame thread again? [Furiously goes out searching for the thread]

This is a very big lie.

kokoA:

This is a very big lie.

Not surprise, this is ABJ after all,if we were talking about fashola's lagos, i ll say its true

how far?

Yeah!

Anyone with an update on this?

nearing completion indeed. There's still alot more work to be done.