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Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi embarks on the last inspection tour.






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With barely two weeks to mark the beginning of another  Democratic dispensation, today cones with nostalgic feelings as  the Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi embarks on the last inspection tour of  the 156km Standard gauge rail line project from Lagos to Ibadan in company of Directors of the Rail Department of  the Ministry of Transport , Management team of the Nigeria Railway corporation,Project consultants , contractors  journalists and other stakeholders for one last final inspection of a project that has been largely lauded by the Nigerians as a major economic feat.



 The  Lagos Ibadan standard gauge  awarded to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC  to the tune of $1.6 billion was flagged off  in March 2017.  This execution of this  project   is a clear  example of the popular saying  that "where there is a will, there is always a way."




After going through such a rocky start beginning from his announcement as a ministerial nominee and eventual screening by  the National Assembly, the Minister of Transportation ,  Hon  Rotimi Amaechi had a clear focus of his intentions for  his contributions  towards  National growth which saw his  exit from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)  and joining the All Progressive Congress.APC.
 Of course, the party had promised  Nigerians a new order and the expectations of many were high .

Determined to get Nigerians on the path of economic prosperity through a robust infrastructural development of the rail sector, Amaechi didn't take lightly his appointment as the Minister of transportation. He was determined to see the project start and completed.


After the flag off of the Project in March 2017, He was only updated on the progress  by  the contractors through a report. This   was unsatisfactory to him. He would have none of it as he was determined that under his watch, Nigerians would enjoy a rail system that works . instead of conforming to the norm by relying on reports submitted to him, he decided on a inspection to see first hand.

And so in September 2017, Amaechi and his team  embarked on the first inspection of the project to see first hand  the progress made. Most importantly , he wanted to be sure the project became a reality.

Of course, his decision  did not go well with some persons who advised him to sit back at the Ministry and get  updated through reports but he was determined to work  the talk.

From that first visit to Lagos, which was still during the rainy season ,  the terrain looked unfriendly,; covered in a thick forest , thorny paths and rivers that seemed impassible to cross. it looked like the project was a farce , something that could not be done.

At intervals during the inspection as he  drove along the rail path leading his team, he would stop, probe and question the  project team. He pushed them , he was stern and insistent when it was necessary and would commend them when necessary This now became the new order as he made it a regular monthly  visit to spur the contractors to speed up the  pace at which they were working.


Due to the Minister's commitment ,  work on the rail has gone considerably far with track laying covering over  120kn out of the 156km with a  possible completion of the whole project by the end of June. This brings the project to an early finish from the stipulated three years agreement

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