33 YEARS AFTER CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, ITAKPE-WARRI RAIL LINE COMMISIONED; BUHARI ORDERS EXTENSION OF LINE TO ABUJA

  • Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Warri Rail Line Commissioned: Bahari commissions virtually from Abuja; Okowa cuts tape in Agbor
  • PMB wants of line extended to Abuja before 2023
  • The line has taken 33 years to be completed against the initial plan of five years completion period
  • Ancillary Facility Yard also inaugurated






The commissioning of the Ajaokuta-Itakpe -Warri Standard Gauge Line on Tuesday September, 2020  was colourful but efforts to keep to the covid-19 rules didn't go unnoticed. 

Although President Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR was not physically present at the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Complex, (Owa-Oyibu)Agbor, he performed the commissioning virtually. However, Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, GCON, his counterpart the Minister of State, Sen. Gbemi Saraki, the governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki with other top government officials, along side the Chairman of the Board of NRC, Engr. Alhassan Ibrahim Musa and members, including the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria and his Management team, were on hand to see to the successful execution of the inauguration activities.

PMB directed in his speech that the line should connect to Abuja before the end of his tenure in order to provide a link between the North and South on that axis. He also formally named the 11 railway stations on the route after past leaders of Nigeria. The stations are as follows:

  1. Itakpe -Adamu Attah
  2. Ajaokuta-Olusola Saraki
  3. Itogbo - Augustus Aikhomo 
  4. Agenegbode - George Innih
  5. Uromi - Anthony Enahoro
  6. Ekehen - Tom Ikimi
  7. Igbanke -Samuel Ugbemudia
  8. Agbor(Owa-Oyibu) -Goodluck Jonathan
  9. Abraka -David Ejoor
  10. Opara - Michael Ibru
  11. Ujevwu -Alfred Rewane

These stations cut across Kogi, Edo and Delta states.

He also named the Abgor Railway Village after Late Admiral Mike Ahigbe  

Construction of the 276 kilometres Central Railway Line commenced in 1987. It was not originally designed for passenger service. It's initial purpose was that of serving as a rail corridor for transportation of iron ore and other raw materials between Ajaokuta and Aladja steel companies as well as serving the industrial and agricultural hubs in the South-South and North Central Nigeria. This line was supposed to have become the first Standard Gauge Railway Project. Unfortunately the project was abandoned after 254 kilometres of tracks had been laid.

In 2009, the project was reactivated but abandoned again. Two years later President Goodluck Jonathan started the process for the construction of the remaining 22 kilometres awarded in 2011. However, the contract was re-awarded in 2017 for proper completion of the rail track work; design  and construction of a facility yard in Agbor and 12 ultra modern station complexes to accommodate passenger services.

This inauguration of sets the stage for the commencement of commercial traffic on line. The Warri-Itakpe Train is expected to run one return trip daily. Five months of running passenger train service free of charge created a huge awareness.  That line is also ready for high volume freight traffic such as cement from Obajina, billets, pipe line and other industrial pipes and containerised cargo entering that zone through Warri or the Niger River.

The present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR must be commended for the political will it has given for the completion of three first phases of three different Standard Gauge Railway Modernisation Projects(SGRMPs), namely:

  • Abuja -Kaduna, a 174 kilometre rail line - completed in 2014 and commissioned  February, 2016
  • Itapke-Ajaokuta-Warri, 276 kilometres - commissioned  September 29,2020
  • Lagos-Ibadan, 156 kilometres (first double track standard gauge railway in West Africa awaiting commissioning)

It is also worthy of note that a phase of the Abuja rail project from the Central Area to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Idu Railway Station was completed and train services also commenced last year.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi's doggedness to see these projects come to life must also be praised. He has been personally and relentlessly involved in ensuring high quality delivery by the contractors, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company and project consultants TEAM. The NRC Management team particularly the Chairman of Board and MD have also been very resourceful in facilitating the rail construction and commissioning projects.

*Photo credit:Martins Okonkwo at Agbor

 

 

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