The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said on Tuesday that the contract for the completion and rehabilitation of the 274km Itakpe-Ajeokuta-Warri Standard Gauge Railway was progressing.
Umar made the fact known to newsmen in Abuja at the official signing of the contract for the construction of Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge rail double track China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.
“Work has progressed steadily with all the tracks laid while the outstanding works currently are the completion of construction of interchanges and ramps, station building and signalling and telecommunications,’’ he said.
The minister commended the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan in resuscitating and revamping railways in Nigeria and said the projects would be fruitful and beneficial to Nigerians.
He said the step of? by the government in rebuilding the rail sector was a clear demonstration of government's political will to the transform all sectors of the ?economy.
“The commitment speaks volume of what a responsible and public-spirited government can embark upon in the shared conviction that a sure means of transportation is a major component of economic development,’’ the minister said.
He urged the contractors to commit their professional and technical expertise to the project and adhere to the agreed standards and specifications.???(NAN)