FG directs increase in passenger service on Lagos-Ibadan rail 

The passenger service would now be increased from one trip per day to two trips.

The Federal Government has ordered an upward review of train movement on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail corridor within the next two weeks.

The passenger service would now be increased from one trip per day to two trips.

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The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this when he resumed inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway project.

Amaechi in company of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Magdalene Ajani; Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mall. Musa Al-Hassan and the Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, commenced the inspection from the mega station at Ebutte Meta before proceeding to the Apapa Port complex and ending the trip in Ibadan.

Daily Trust reports that the NRC had in December commenced passenger service from Lagos to Ibadan with one daily round trip taking off from Ibadan to Lagos.

But Amaechi said within the next two weeks, the service would increase to two daily trips while expressing satisfaction with the level of work done on the project.

The Minister spoke just as the NRC has took delivery of 10 new locomotives and 44 new coaches.

The NRC MD said three of the locomotives would be deployed for passenger services while the remaining seven will be used for freight services.

Amaechi, who briefed newsmen after the inspection, was however silent on the commissioning date earlier slated for January 2021.

He had earlier said over 60 workers on site tested positive for COVID-19 which stalled the commissioning of the project in January.

However, he said all the workers are back on site and expressed satisfaction with the level of work, especially across the stations, where all the signages have been installed while few electrical fittings are being carried out.

Amaechi said, “What we saw before is not what we are seeing now (at the stations). If we tell them we want to move in, in the next two weeks, it would be ready.

“They are only doing minor things. I am very proud of what I am seeing.”

Asked on the commissioning date, he said, “There is no new deadline.”