After failing to meet several self-set deadlines for the commencement of haulage of petroleum products, especially fuel by railway, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) said yesterday that the project would have been inaugurated last week but for dearth of the product in the country at the moment.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that the commencement of the service was hinged on the completion of the construction of the Lagos-Kano Track, which the NRC said had been completed, adding, however, that when the service begins, it would be limited to Ilorin and Offa for the meantime.
The NRC has set initial deadline for the project’s kick-off in April, but has failed to meet the deadline month after month, citing technical issues and failure of certain portions of the Lagos-Kano railway line, most part of which was re-awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) by the Ministry of Transport after it revoked the contract from Constain.
“The minister of transport was to flag off the service last week, but it was postponed due to non-availability of the product (fuel) in the country currently. We are ready to start, at least down to Offa and Ilorin. Once the product becomes available normally, the service will start from Lagos to Ilorin and Offa for now, because we are waiting for the inauguration of the Lagos-Kano Track, which is expected to happen before Christmas,” the corporation’s spokesman, Mr. David Ndakotsu, a deputy director at NRC told our correspondent yesterday.
The corporation had in February, 2012, imported 20 pressurised tank wagons at the cost of N600million in anticipation of lifting petroleum products from Lagos jetties to the northern part of the country through the Lagos-Kano railway.
NRC’s managing director, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade had told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in an exclusive that the corporation was awaiting the approval of its budget proposal for planned acquisition of 50 more tank wagons, in addition to the first 20 imported in February this year for purposes of hauling petroleum products by rail.
Even though he declined to give figures about funds needed for acquisition of the pressurised tank wagons, the initial acquired at N600million gives an indication that 50 more tanks may cost up to N1.5billion.
“The good news is that the long awaited Lagos to Kano service is now very imminent, as the missing link in the track, which is that part of the track in Akerri, is now being completed.