Passengers offered free train rides between Lagos and Abeokuta for the next two months

TRAIN passengers will be offered free rides between Lagos and Abeokuta fort two months as from Wednesday next week as the federal governments looks to open the new national standard gauge railway network.

Over the last 10 years, the Nigerian government has sought to improve upon the railway network built by the former colonial masters as the trains are slow because they are built on a narrow cape gauge. Former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan's administration awarded contracts for the widespread redevelopment of the railways, including upgrading the tracks to standard gauge.

Historically, Lagos to Ibadan was the first piece of railway track built in Nigeria when the British government began construction of a link in March 1896. It began operations in March 1901 and was extended to Minna in 1911, where it met the Baro-Kano Railway that was built by the government of northern Nigeria between 1907 and 1911 and in 1912, the two lines were amalgamated into the Government Department of Railways, the predecessor to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

According to transport minister Rotimi Amaechi the free ride service will be flagged off by vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Amaechi who was on a routine inspection of the project, expressed satisfaction at the standard of work done by the contractor, the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company.

He said two coaches would be deployed from Itakpe-Warri railway station to make four coaches which would run the free ride for two months. According to the minister, the rail project will further bring about economic development in the area and Nigeria when ready.

Mr Amaechi added: “The vice president will ride the train on February 6. He is coming to flag off the passengers’ use of the first phase from Lagos to Abeokuta which would reduce travel time from 1 hour 30 minutes to 45 minutes.”

He said that work was in progress on the various train stations within the numerous corridors. Mr Amaechi added that efforts were being made to expedite work between Agbado and Apapa axis of the project.

Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), had said that the track laying of the project was moving towards Lagos, adding that 1.5km tracks were laid every day. Jerry Oche, the NRC Lagos district manager, said that when completed, trains would be travelling at 150km an hour on the 156km Lagos-Ibadan route, making the journey in less than two hours.