The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made the revelation during an Instagram Live video with ace journalist, Dele Momodu.
He said the Itapke-Warri rail line have been completed and is due for commissioning by Pesident Muhammdu Buhari but for the emergence of COVID-19.
The rail service has 12 stations with two located between Itakpe, Ajaokuta and Warri; Itakpe; Eganiy; Adogbe; Itogbo; Aghenebode; Uromi; Egehen; Igbanke; Agbor; Abraka; Okpara and Ujewu stations
The line, which was started in 1987, was built to move iron ore from mines around Itakpe to the steelworks at Ajaokuta but was abandoned for many years before construction resumed during Buhari’s first term in office.
Amaechi said there is a plan to construct a yard at the Warri Rail Station where rail equipment can be fabricated and produced.
He also said 1000 housing units are being constructed at the Warri yard for Nigerian Railway workers.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi explained that the FG has resolved to name the Warri Yard station after former President Jonathan because of his administration’s immense contribution to the project.
According to Amaechi, “When I was appointed the minister for transportation, the president warned ‘do not start new contracts, go and complete old ones’.
“We met Itakpe-Warri rail line which had been in existence for 34 years uncompleted; it would have been the first standard gauge line in Africa if it was completed.
“Based on the president’s instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China but the president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the project.
“Now the project is ready for Commissioning but because of coronavirus everything is on hold. And you know the President is a shy person. He doesn’t like public show. What he said is that let’s just focus on our achievements and by the time we leave office people will see what we have done but some of us are insisting that we commission some our projects.We have decided to name it after former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
