The Federal Government has announced the approval of the sum of $11.17 billion for the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project to link all coastal cities in the country by rail in six years.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed in a press briefing with state House correspondents, made the announcement after the virtual FEC meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Mr. Mohammed said that Transportation Minister Mr. Rotimi Amaechi presented two memoranda related to the Federal Government’s commission to expand and consolidate rail projects.
He said “The first one actually has to do with the Kano-Jibiu rail and the other one has to do with the Port-Harcourt- Maiduguri rail.” “Actually, what was approved today was funding to ensure that work starts immediately on those two rails.”
ALSO READ: Second Niger Bridge to be Completed in 2022 Says Fashola
The Minister highlighted that Lagos-Calabar Coastal Standard Guage was also approved by the Federal Government. “Today, the council has given approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail.” He said. The importance being that, just like the Lagos-Kano route, the Lagos-Calabar route link all Coastal cities in the country. With an estimated cost of 11.17billion dollars for the projects, the proposed route alignment is as follows;
Lagos to Sagamu, Sagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin-City to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenogoa, Yenegoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, Obudu Ranch with branch lines from Benin-City to Agbo, Ogwashi-ukwu, Asaba, Onitsha and Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Sea Port.
