Freight services have finally resumed on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway line, Daily Trust can report.
This is coming two years after the project was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 157-km long railway line with an extension to the Apapa Ports in Lagos has been largely under-utilised due to some impediments, which have stalled the complete linkage of the track to the Apapa Port quay.
Our correspondent reports that three former ministers of transportation including Rotimi Amaechi, Gbemisola Saraki (in acting capacity) and Muazu Sambo could not resolve the impediment despite several assurances.
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A radioactive scanner belonging to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) was billed to be removed to pave the way for the completion of the track but this has dragged on for over two years.
It was learnt that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had to divert the track temporarily pending when the building would be removed.
The China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) had also raised concern over the under-utilisation of the track.
As far back as 2021, Deputy Managing Director of CCECC and the Project Manager, Mr. Xia Lijun said while passenger service has continued since commissioning, to make profit in the operation of the track, freight service must resume.
Following the track diversion, the first freight service was achieved on the train as confirmed by the CCECC itself.
One of the CCECC officials in a post on his twitter page on Sunday wrote: “Recently, the first special freight train transportation of the Lagos to Ibadan Railway has been successfully completed with the help of #CCECC. This achievement will not only improve local transportation but also boost the productivity and local economy.”
It was learnt that the freight service was activated after the completion of an access road at Moniya, the terminal point of the train in Ibadan, Oyo State.
NRC Director of Operations, Mr. Niyi Ali in a chat with our correspondent confirmed that the freight service has commenced with the transportation of cement product from Papalanto to Moniya.
He said movement of containers from Apapa Ports to Moniya would commence by August 1.
He said, “We are now carrying cement on the route. We are starting containers from Apapa. Our target is August 1st. There are so many products we are also exploring. We are also looking at carrying petroleum products. We are open to all types of traffic.”