Railway Modernisation: NRC awards contract for construction of Four overpass bridges in Lagos-Opeifa
..Fagba junction and other areas to benefit
Says railway remains best way for national integration
The Nigerian Railway Corporation,NRC,has awarded contract for the construction of four additional overpass bridges in Lagos to facilitate movement of trains in the city and solve the traffic issues involve in train services.
The construction is expected to commence soon.
This was disclosed by Dr Kayode Opeifa the Managing Director and chief executive officer of Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Tuesday in Lagos during the presentation of Permanent operating license and Track Access License between the NRC and the Lagos State Government.
According to him,the construction of the overpass is part of the Federal government commitment to build four out of the nine overpass bridges on the Lagos section of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge route.
He said Lagos state has already built five overpass to fulfil its own part of the project.
Dr Opeifa while presenting the License to Lamata at a press briefing said national railway all over the world serves as connectivity to other regional and state lines adding that the LAMATA agency responsible for transportation in Lagos has Blaise the trail in city transportation for other states in the country to join.
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He also confirmed on- going talks and negotiations between the NRC and the South West Development Commission,SWDC to connect 44 cities and towns in the region to national network rail for intergration of the region adding that the South East, North Central region and other regions development Commissions have signified intention to work with NRC to integrate their regions.
Dr Kayode Opeifa,NRC MD appending his signature to the License while Engr Mrs Abimbola Akinajo of Lamata looks on.
Engr Mrs Abimbola Akinajo of Lamata,speaking at the event
NRC and LAMATA team displaying the operating License
Speaking further,Dr Opeifa said that the formal presentation of License to LAMATA was culmination of a process which commenced years ago after discussions and negotiations between the national railways as the custodian of rail service in the country.
Managing Director of Lamata
He disclosed that the fest was also made possible by the removal of rail service from the Exclusive list to the Concurrent list after President Bola Tinubu signed the Act into law.
Speaking during the presentation of the License, Engineer (Mrs) Abimbola Akinajo,Managing Director of Lamata,recalled that the feat was achieved after several meetings and discussions with the NRC as national body with exclusive preserve on rail adding, “achieving the feat was not a walk in the park.
We had several engagements and meetings between both parties as the NRC had highly committed and professional team which ensured that all money spent on NRC is effectively utilized.
She commended the team spirit of the Lamata staff progress snd focus adding,”we know where we are and where we are headed.
She also disclosed that with the anticipated arrival of new trains and coaches,the Lagos Red Line will increase its present nine trips per day to 24 to cater for the high density strain users between Oyingbo in Lagos and Agbado in Ogun state.
