Minister says Abuja-Kaduna rail route will be launched in May

According to him, before the launch, by President Muhammadu Buhari, the rail will be test-run in March, adding that during that period, passengers will board for free.

"The essence of my tour is to enable us assess whether we are ready for commercial activities and I think we are. I will be travelling from Abuja to Kaduna tomorrow through the rail.

"In March, they should start the test-run of the rail services for free, then the proper commercial activity will start in May, where we expect the President to flag-off the use of coaches.’’

He said that a total sum of N150 billion would be used to execute the national rail project, with another 60 billion for the Lagos-Kano standard gauge and yet another 60 billion for the Lagos-Calabar project.

"What we are doing is implementation of what we met in office. We are not among those who will abandon good ideas.

"If we see an idea that is good, we will adopt it. The Lagos-Kano project was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and we are flying with it.

"The Lagos-Calabar project was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan and we are also flying with it. What we are doing is implementing those projects that have not been implemented for so many years.’’

He further said that Idu, the location of the rail, was too far from the city centre, adding that the contractor should make provisions for temporary stations in the city.

Amaechi suggested that since the Abuja light rail project had yet to commence, the tracks could be used to pick passengers from the city centre to Kaduna.

"The Abuja light rail is expected to start from Abuja and de-board passengers at Idu from where such passengers will move to Kaduna but since the Abuja light rail is not ready, we shall use their tracks to continue to pick passengers from Abuja until they are ready and then we will disengage the temporary facility.

"The role of the station is to convey passengers to Idu, where they will be transferred to the national rail line to proceed to Kaduna,'' he explained.

He said that the only challenge with the project was the fencing aspect.

"We need to fence the lines to prevent animals from crossing the rail.

"The tracks are finished and the signalling at Idu is also completed but the major problem we have is fencing and it is because of the peculiar nature of our culture.

"Because of our culture, we have to fence and we are going to spend close to 100 million dollars to fence the tracks from Abuja to Kaduna just because we have to protect the railway from animals and human crossing.

"The train currently goes at the speed of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour for fear of humans and animals crossing the rail; by the time we start commercial activities, we must secure its path.

"We will be running on 120 to 150 kilometres when the trains go commercial; that speed cannot accommodate human and animals crossing the rail, so to protect human beings and animals, we are going ahead with the fencing.’’

He further stated that he had instructed CCECC to construct a Railway Academy, where Nigerians would be trained on how to operate the rail system.

"I have told the construction company that they will need to build a Railway Academy, where experts will be employed to train Nigerians on how to operate the standard gauge.

"Nigeria is not a dumping ground for technology; you cannot dump technology on us unless you bring the technology with the expertise,'' he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Jack Li, the CCECC Managing Director, said that the project, which started in 2011, was to have been completed in 2015 but that was not possible due to lack of funds.