The December 2018 deadline for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line may not be feasible contrary to regular assurances by the Federal Government, Daily Trust can report.
This reality emerged last week during the inspection of the project conducted by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Land Transport.
The team, accompanied by the officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) led by the Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, met the representatives of the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the contractor handling the project at Papalanto in Ogun State.
Our correspondent learnt that during the meeting held behind closed doors, the CCECC team told the vising NASS members pointedly that the December deadline was not realistic.
In fact, according to multiple sources, the team is requesting for Mid-2019 for the completion of the project.
“We may however see the project being delivered up to Abeokuta by that December,” one of the lawmakers said.
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has consistently maintained that the December deadline for the delivery of the project covering 156 kilometers is sacrosanct.
The NRC MD also reiterated this last week confirming however that the contractor has been making a request for extension but the government is yet to grant the request.
