The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that for the delivery of a good rail project, the Jibowu and Costain bridges in Lagos State would be demolished.
Speaking on the demolition of Jibowu and Costain bridges, he said: “I was on a tour with the Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode and we have agreed that the two bridges will come down.”
He also explained that new bridge will be constructed in Constain so as to make the rail line and the new bridge will be effectively managed.
The minister, who made this known during the inspection of the Lagos – Ibadan rail project, however expressed optimism that the project would be delivered by December, 2018.
“Be rest assured that we are chasing the Chinese to finish in December 2018. Don’t forget the contract is three years and that is their argument but our own argument is that we need it before 2019 January.
Read Also:
“… I am telling them that I am not satisfied with the pace at which they are going. I am a layman, the Chairman and the MD are engineers but as a layman, I think by now they should have started laying tracks in some areas and that I have not seen even though the MD said in one month time, the tracks can be laid. I want to see that we are ready to lay the tracks.”
Speaking on some of the challenges affecting the completion of the project, the minister said “There is no way you can do construction without challenges in different forms and kinds and you have to address them.
“The challenges are not even here in Ogun, they are worse in Lagos. We are dealing with water, drainage, gas, power and the military. The only thing we are dealing with here is just gas and a few power transmission lines and we can manage it.”
The minister also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari would Commission two locomotives and ten coaches before Christmas.
According to him, “Two locomotives and ten coaches came into the country and the President will be commissioning it this December.
“We want to make sure that those travelling from Abuja to Kaduna are able to use the new coaches”.
