President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge project on June 10, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has said.
The minister announced this yesterday during a joint inspection of the project with Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
Mohammed told reporters at the Wole Soyinka Railway Station in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that the inspection was meant to ensure that everything is in place ahead of the ceremony.
He said: “Tentatively, the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge will be inaugurated on June 10. What the Honourable Minister is doing is to ensure that all the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed before June 10.
“You can see right from Apapa to Agege, Papalanto to this place; you have seen us go down to engage the contractor to ensure that everything is in order.
“It is because this is one of the flagships of this administration, one of the landmark achievements of this administration.
“Not only is this the first time we are having a dual standard gauge, but you can see the passion by which the minister supervises the project.”
Mohammed reiterated the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to improve the lives of Nigerians through railway modernisation across the country to significantly cut travel times and make land journeys more comfortable.
He said: “The government is desirous of improving the lives of the people in the area of transportation.
“This is my fourth experience with the Honourable Minister on this project and I see progress every day.
“There is nothing to deflect the attacks on this administration than by showing concrete evidence like this one that this administration is focused, is committed to delivering infrastructure to Nigerians.
“With this railway project completed, we are cutting down the travel time between Lagos and Ibadan, but more importantly, we are creating jobs along the line. It is by far safer than travelling by road. So far, we are satisfied with what we are seeing.”
