Since the revitalization of the movement of containers to Inland Container depots (ICD) in the north by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), the corporation said it has moved 120 bonded containers from the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa to Kaduna and Kano.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday during the commissioning of two Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) engines and six units of air-conditioned coaches by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuade, said the freight volumes moved by rail are expected to rise significantly over the next few months.
He said, “Today, we move a monthly average of 3,570 tonnes of cement from Ewekoro; 3,170 tonnes of wheat from the Apapa flour mills and 120 bonded containers from the Apapa Port, all the way to Kaduna and Kano.”
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said the Federal Government has signed a commercial agreement with Chinese engineering giant, CCECC, for the contruction of coastal railway line that would traverse 12 states of the federation.
The Minister said a framework for the coastal railway line had been signed on 5th May 2014.
“A framework agreement was signed between the Federal Ministry of Transport and CCECC for the construction of the railway line that go across 12 states of the federation, namely Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom And Cross River covering a distance of 1685km.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the framework agreement is not a commercial contract but agreement between the Federal Government and prospective Chinese financiers with outcome of the resolution leading to seeking relevant approval from the National Assembly and from the Federal Executive council,” Umar stated.
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