Published 10/8/2010 1:58:00 AM

Railway will return to full operations in December – NRC

Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan

The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, has disclosed that the corporation will begin full operations in December 2010.

He expressed the confidence that with the rate of progress being recorded in the ongoing nationwide rehabilitation of the corporation’s rail lines, the NRC would meet the target date.

Sijuwade spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, shortly after inspecting the rehabilitation works on the rail system in the Western District.

The NRC boss, who was accompanied by the corporation’s Western District Manager, Mr. Folorunso Gbadamosi, and other top officials, was conducted round the concrete rail sleepers, manufacturing site, as well as the rehabilitated track by the Project Manager of the Chinese Civil and Electrical Construction Company, Mr. James Li.

Sijuwade expressed delight at the tempo of work on the Western Line, which runs from Lagos to Jebba, and remarked that the December target would definitely be met.

He said, “With the new mechanised track laying machine that has just been introduced by CCECC, what we expect to see over the next two to three months is a major increase in the rate of track laying.

“We still remain optimistic that they would be able to meet the target. I must say that even though in some areas, there are some bridge works that are still being worked upon, yet I am quite happy with the progress being made and we are still working hard day and night to ensure that we meet the target of the end of this year that has been promised Nigerians.”

While disclosing that the corporation had taken delivery of 25 locomotives ordered from General Electric, Sijuwade explained that some of the locomotives were already being used in some parts of the country and had been certified as being safe for operations.

Areas where the locomotives are already in operation, according to him, include Kano to Chalawa where the mass transit system is currently being run, adding that the Minna to Kaduna route would enjoy the facility in the next few weeks.

“What we are doing is actually deploying locomotives on a progressive basis, subject to full verification of the safety of the tracks in those areas,” he added.

source: http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art201010081594276

December again!

Let's hope this is not another 3,000 MW statement!

Amin! Amin!! Amin!!!

story story