Plans are underway by the Federal Government of Nigeria to build a $272 million, 5.76km rail track in the Federal Capital Territory.
This was made public by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Transportation Secretariat through its secretary, Alhaji Zakari Dobi, on Monday, inspecting vandalized Light Rail Track, Station and Idu Training Centre on Monday in Abuja.
Dobi said the bill for the construction of the Light Rail track is currently on the way to the FCT Minister’s table while adding that he was optimistic the Minister would sign on the file for approval, stating that the secretariat was working to go back to the site for the construction of the 5.76km rail track and fixing of the vandalized areas of the track.
He said that the total bill for the construction of the rail track as approved is $272 million dollars.
He also cited the need to first be able to evaluate and asses the level of vandalization on the track again.
”Secondly, to also look at the Training Centre at Idu Rail Station with a view to be able to relocating some departments of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Transportation Secretariat due to challenges of office spaces in Area 11.
”What we saw was quite bad even though when I assumed office, I have been briefed about the issue of vandalism.
”We have intention to go back to site for the construction of 5.76 km rail track in Abuja. The cost of the construction of also fixing of the vandalized areas.
”We have seen some of the fresh areas that were vandalized and I want to believe that the projection made earlier on fixing the vandalized areas will still accommodate what we saw.”
The Transport secretary said the lack of operation on the construction also resulted in the vandalism, stating, “We are going to look at issues to see if we can come up with possible ways on how to stop the vandalism completely but I do know that the first thing to do is to resume operation.”