The Federal Government is currently carrying out feasibility
studies on the construction of 10 new standard gauge rail lines across
the country...
According to the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the standard gauge
rail lines will cover a traveling distance of over 3,421 kilometers
when completed.
It further stated that the various rail lines would pass through
Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Benin, Abuja, Kogi, Onitsha and Sokoto, among
other states.
The corporation disclosed this in its latest Rail Development Plan
report that was obtained by a Punch correspondent from the Federal
Ministry of Transportation in Abuja on Sunday.
The NRC outlined the 10 new standard gauge rail routes where
feasibility studies were being carried out as the 300km
Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore-Benin City East-West rail line;
Lagos-Ibadan-Osogbo-Baro-Abuja high speed 615km line; Ajaokuta
(Eganyin)-Obajana-Jakura-Baro-Siraj-Abuja rail, with additional line
from Ajaokuta to Otukpo (533km); and the 520km Zaria-Kaura
Namoda-Sokoto-Ileila-Birnin Koni in Niger Republic.
Others are the Benin-Agbor-Onitsha-Nnewi-Owerri-Aba rail, with
additional line from Onitsha-Enugu-Abakaliki, 500km; Eganyin (near
Ajaokuta)-Lokoja-Abaji-Abuja, 280km; Benin-Sapele-Warri-Yenagoa-Port
Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar-Akampa-Ikom-Obudu Cattle Ranch coastal rail
line, 673km; Port
Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri
line; Ikom-Obudu-Ogoja-Katsina Ala-Wukari-Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri line;
and the Kano-Nguru-Gusau-Damaturu-Maiduguri-Gamborugala rail line.
In its report, the NRC stated that the construction and
rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge line project
was nearing completion.
It recalled the construction of the Abuja (Idu)-Kaduna standard
gauge rail had earlier been completed and train operations commenced.
The corporation noted that the groundbreaking for the construction
of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge (double track) 2 x 180km rail line
project, awarded to the CCECC, was done earlier this year, adding that
work had commenced on the site following the conclusion of its funding
arrangement.
It, however, stated that paucity of funds was a key challenge to
the projects, adding that the government required more funds to complete
the rehabilitation of the Western and Eastern lines, carry out addendum
for sidings and loop lines on the Western line, procure and
rehabilitate locomotives and rolling stock, as well as for the
procurement of maintenance equipment.
It said more funds were needed for complete modernisation projects,
as well as for the rehabilitation and construction of links to the sea,
rivers and airports.
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