Amosun to Flagg off Ogun Light Rail Project in January

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has disclosed that the phase one of the Ogun State Light Rail project would be due for commissioning by the first quarter of 2019.

The rail project would be flagged-off in January, 2017.

Governor Amosun  made this known while unveiling the Ogun State Light Rail project at the First International Rail Conference held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos

The Governor assured that his administration was committed to growing the state’s economy from a paltry N20 billion to N100 billion through land use, industrial and commercial development.

Governor Amosun said “the first phase of the project will include a 57km Agbara- Berger, 54km Ofada – Sagamu and 84km Abeokuta – Sagamu – Ijebu Ode rail project among others”.

He further revealed that the project was also targeted at meeting housing deficit of Lagos state through intercity rail network, to explore strategic linkage with the economy of Lagos and the West Africa sub region.

Amosun who disclosed that no nation in the world move goods on road like Nigeria, said the project would help to reduce the daily pressure on the roads as it would further spur development of the state in the Agricultural sector.

In his speech, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who was represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Mohammed Babakobi said the Federal Government intended to generate not less than 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs through rail system modernisation.

Amaechi said that the over 117 year old rail system in Nigeria required urgent modernisation  and the Federal Government was committed to rehabilitating and refurbishing existing rail infrastructure as well as building new ones in order to widen the rail network.

On his part, the Managing Director, Planet projects Ltd and the organiser of the first International Rail Conference with the theme “Nigeria Railway Industry, moving from the 19th to 21st Century’’, Mr. Biodun Otunola observed that the nation’s economy would not grow if the rail system was not fixed, commending the Muhammadu Buhari led administration for committing over N10 billion naira to rail project.