Rail Transportation Of Petroleum Products Begins in April – Amaechi

The Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, declared that the Buhari administration would commence the rail transportation of petroleum products to selected parts of the country before the end of the first quarter of 2016.

He made this known at the hearing on rail contracts awarded between 2010 and 2015, by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, conducted by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on railway contract scam.

Amaechi said that the development would decongest the number of heavy trucks and tankers that convey petroleum products that ply the nation’s highways.

“As from this first quarter, we should be able to begin to move petroleum products from Lagos by rail up to the north, so as to reduce the impact of trailers and tankers on our roads”, Amaechi said.

He added that the ministry would focus on completing the construction of the Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar railway lines with a view to developing a faster railway system.

The minister gave an assurance that if the ministry got the loan to finance the project from the China-Nexim Bank, it would speed up the completion of a standard gauge railway track.

According to Amaechi, before the end of 2016, trains would start running on the Kaduna-Abuja standard gauge line, which is currently near completion.

Besides, he said that the ministry will harness the potentials in the railway sector to create employment and ensure the easy movement of goods across the country.