Ghana Minister for Transport and Railway Development, Hon. Joe Ghartey ,has commended his Nigerian counterpart, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi ,for the success achieved so far in the Lagos-Ibadan rail project.
This is even as the Nigerian Senate Committee Members on Land Transport gave a pass mark to Amaechi for a job well done.
Mr. Ghartey said that he would emulate the passion demonstrated by the Nigerian Transportation Minister and bring it to bear in the proposed construction of 40 kilometre rail project in Ghana,expected to commence soon.
The Ghanaian Transport and Railway Development Minister gave the commendation during an inspection tour of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project with Nigerian Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi and Senate Committee Members on Land Transport, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday.
He said, “The enthusiasm I see in Nigeria Transportation Minister is infectious. Amaechi has provided the leadership which has pushed the contractors working.I will work hard myself because I am very impressed with what he is doing”.
On his part, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said, “The synergy between the Senate Committee on Land Transport and the Ministry of Transportation is such that will benefit the average Nigerian and we have seen that in the progress of work that has been made since the last time we came here in February.
” We came through Agbado to Abeokuta which was about 60 kilometres last February. This time around we were able to take a train ride through the track to about 90 kilometres, which is a difference of about 30 kilometres within eight weeks, that is the effect of oversight on this inspection, and along the land you could see that added value was exhibited in terms of the property that are springing up here and there.
“And when you look at the indirect benefits by way of commerce and trade, it is endless. This is a project that cannot fail. The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has done very well in driving this project”.
Earlier, Transportation Minister Amaechi said his counterpart was in Nigeria to see things for himself as the government of Ghana is proposing a 40-kilometre rail project in few months to come.
He said:”They are here because in two to three months, they are starting their own 40 kilometre railway. Here in Lagos-Ibadan, it is 156 kilometres Railway. So, they want to see what we are doing, how we are supervising the contractors and the quality of work we are doing because it is the same contractor that is handling their project”
Amaechi added that he was sure that the project would stretch to Ibadan by May, but noted that there might be delay in the construction of the stations and communication systems.
The Transportation Minister said:”By May, we should have the rail to get to Ibadan. What will delay us will be the construction of stations and communication system”.
According to him, funding was a huge setback to some of the projects already awarded by the Federal Government that are yet to commence.
He noted that it was the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to connect the State capitals with modern rail and pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with government to achieve the desired results.
Amaechi said:”I am emotionally attached to the Lagos-Calabar rail project because I am from the South-South, and it is unfortunate that we have not gotten money to do that project. The directive of the President is that we should do everything possible to get the interconnectivity of the entire country by rail.
“And to do that Nigerians need to be patient with us because we need about thirty six to fourty billion Dollars to get that interconnectivity. It is unfortunate that when we had the money we never used it to construct the rail. Those who are criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari today didn’t remember that there was a point in time when we had money to do the interconnectivity but they squandered the money by way of corruption.
“So, it is a bit difficult, we are trying to meet the challenges we are facing. Nigerians must realise that these challenges can only be resolved by availability of funds and those funds are not readily available as funding is essential challenge to these projects”.
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