The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, says the new Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project is a fulfilment of the promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the electorate.
Ashafa said this on Tuesday at the ground-breaking ceremony of the project in Lagos.
He said, “One major aspect of this project is the generation of employment. At least 250,000 jobs will be created through this project.
“Many people will be employed directly for the construction of the railway project.
“The project will bring a positive change to the economy of the people and traders will also benefit in the development.”
He said that the Lagos to Kano and Calabar rail projects were also priorities of the present government, saying that the Senate was debating their approval.
The APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, also said that the Lagos-Ibadan rail project would hasten development through the creation of jobs and economic growth.
He said, “The rail project is going to professionalise transportation and save the country from constant road repairs.
“The project will advance the transportation system in the country.”
The Federal Government awarded the project to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation at the cost of N458bn.