Washout delays N24.15bn Lagos-Kano rail project

Plans by the Nigerian Railway Corporation to re-open the Lagos-Kano rail line for full operation at the end of the year may not materialise due to a washout problem.Already, the corporation is considering the first quarter of next year as a new delivery date for the N24.15bn rehabilitation rail project, which was to have been completed in the first quarter of 2011.A source at the NRC head office in Ebute Meta, Lagos, attributed the delay to the difficulty the contractor, Costain West Africa Plc, was having in fixing a recurring washout point at the Akere Bridge.This is the second time the delivery of the project will be shifted.The first was earlier in the year when Costain, which is handling the Jebba-Kano section of the project, subcontracted it to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation following its inability to deliver at the appointed time.The Federal Government had in 2009 awarded two contracts for the rehabilitation of the line to CCECC and Costain at a cost of N24.15bn.The Chinese firm got the 48-kilometre Lagos-Jebba section, while Costain was awarded the Jebba-Kano end stretching 640km.They were given the first quarter of 2011 to complete the project. With the delivery of 25 new locomotives by General Electric, NRC was expected to resume a rejuvenated Lagos-Kano and inter-city mass transit train services in different parts of the country.CCECC has completed the first leg of the project, prompting the NRC to commence a weekly Lagos-Ilorin train service.The source, who did not want his name published because of the sensitive nature of the matter, told our correspondent that the contractor had decided to dredge the Akere River and reconstruct the rail bridge.The dredging is considered a better option because it will put an end to the perennial flooding of the rail track, he said.According to him, the dredging will take at least a month, adding that the construction of the bridge would take another month.The Assistant Director, Public Relations, NRC, Mr. David Ndakotsu, confirmed that there was still some work to be done on the Jebba-Kano end of the rail line.Ndakotsu, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said about 70 per cent of the work had been done.He ruled out the end of the year delivery time, explaining that the contractor was putting finishing touches to some sections of the track.The NRC spokesman gave January 2012 as a possible date for the full restoration of train services on the Lagos-Kano line.
Click here to read full news..