The Federal Government has released the sum of N42 billion to China Civil Engineering Construction Company for the on-going Lagos–Ibadan rail project. The release came as the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Ameachi lampooned the company over the slow pace of work on the project. Ameachi expressed his dissatisfaction at various stations he visited at the weekend during the monthly inspection of the project from Iju station in Lagos State to Omi Adio in Ibadan.
The Minister had earlier stated that the Lagos Ibadan rail project would be ready by December 2018 or at most January 2019 but with state of the lingering construction, January may be ust a pipe dream.
” I am not satisfied with the state of the work I see here. By now, Iju to Abeokuta should be
ready.
“My expectations are yet to be met. Where I left the project two weeks ago is still where it is, and am not happy and your excuses are not tenable, so I’m giving you two weeks to get this rail fixed
“There is need for more workforce on site to enable them to meet the target set for the project,” he said.
He informed CCECC that failure to comply and complete the project within the stipulated time might lead to non-disbursement of funds as he threatened not to sign the Interim Payment Certificate except there is a significant progress on the project.
” With the way this work is going I might be forced not to sign your Interim Payment Certificate anymore except you meet up with the expectations.
” Last week I just signed N42 billion for you and I expected that if I’m making you happy, you should also make me happy as well by the progress of work,” he said.
He urged the CCECC workers to speed up the project so as to avoid the rainy season that might start anytime from February.
