The Federal Government has flagged off the haulage of cargo from the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa, Lagos, to the Ibadan Dry Inland Container Port in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, who embarked on his inaugural official tour of the Lagos-Ibadan rail, flagged-off the first cargo movement through the rail corridor on behalf of the Federal Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Alkali disclosed that three coaches of 30 wagons would be loaded daily from the Apapa Ports to Ibadan as part of Government’s effort to decongest the Ports, save Shippers from accumulation of demurrages while also facilitating seamless operations at the Lagos ports.
He pointed out that efforts to decongest the ports were still ongoing, revealing that there were plans to rehabilitate the Lagos to Kano narrow gauge, and that by the time this section was finished, the issue of decongesting the Lagos ports, providing alternative modes of transportation and providing sustainable and cost effective means of transportation would have been addressed to a certain extent.
Moreover, Aalkali stated that the haulage of cargo from the Ports would commence on one track, as completion of the other two tracks leading into the Port was being hindered by the Nigerian Customs scanning Centre.
He however, assured on efforts to liaise with the Minister of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service to suggest relocation of the scanning centre.
On the issue of the sustainability of the railway sector in the country, the Minister said “we are going to ensure that the existing contracts are executed and it is the vision of the administration to ensure that the transport sector is enhanced especially with the removal of the fuel subsidy that will make the cost of transportation much secure and cost effective.”
He also inspected Kajola Wagon Assembly Plant which is the first in West Africa, built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to the country is meant to create employment for more than 500 youths.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, said that the Corporation was operating rail freight service on the Lagos-Kano with the narrow gauge but stopped due activities of vandals.
He however, assured that the NRC had about 120 narrow gauge wagons and has also placed more orders through the China Civil Engineering Construction Company to adequately support government’s efforts to support trade and decongest the ports.
