The Federal Executive Council Thursday approved a N1.1Billion for the design, manufacture and commissioning of 2 new diesel locomotive for the standard gauge Nigerian railway corporation line from Kaduna to Abuja.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar who addressed state House correspondents at the end of the meeting wednesday said the two locomotives are to be used for mass transport services on the Abuja- Kaduna standard gauge rail line which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
According to the Minister, the scope of work for the contract include: the design and manufacturing of 2 number diesel electric locomotives with a capacity of 2800 kilowatts for standard gauge tracks; training of 30 personnel for the Nigerian railway corporation on operation and maintenance of the locomotives; commissioning and test running in Nigeria, as well as one year maintenance and technical support with two resident technicians.
Senator Umar said “government is fully committed to the revival of the Nigerian railway corporation. we are working assiduously to see the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line.
This is the first batch of the rolling stock that we are acquiring. specifically the locomotives to be used for the transportation of passengers and indeed freight from Abuja to Kaduna and Vice Versa” he said.
The Minister said that the Federal government would place orders for more locomotives next year.
He noted that while government is working to ensure that the country’s rail system was modernised,”we are also working to see to the completion of the rehabilitation of the narrow gauge lines so as to have complementary services.
“In the long run when we achieve total development of the standard gauge, the narrow gauge will be dedicated mainly for freight, but as it is we have to continue to work hand in hand for both gauges to be operational until such a time when Nigeria attains that level where we have in place the standard gauge rail tracks and then the rail system, we can now dedicate the standard gauge lines for freight” the minister said.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar who addressed state House correspondents at the end of the meeting wednesday said the two locomotives are to be used for mass transport services on the Abuja- Kaduna standard gauge rail line which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
According to the Minister, the scope of work for the contract include: the design and manufacturing of 2 number diesel electric locomotives with a capacity of 2800 kilowatts for standard gauge tracks; training of 30 personnel for the Nigerian railway corporation on operation and maintenance of the locomotives; commissioning and test running in Nigeria, as well as one year maintenance and technical support with two resident technicians.
Senator Umar said “government is fully committed to the revival of the Nigerian railway corporation. we are working assiduously to see the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line.
This is the first batch of the rolling stock that we are acquiring. specifically the locomotives to be used for the transportation of passengers and indeed freight from Abuja to Kaduna and Vice Versa” he said.
The Minister said that the Federal government would place orders for more locomotives next year.
He noted that while government is working to ensure that the country’s rail system was modernised,”we are also working to see to the completion of the rehabilitation of the narrow gauge lines so as to have complementary services.
“In the long run when we achieve total development of the standard gauge, the narrow gauge will be dedicated mainly for freight, but as it is we have to continue to work hand in hand for both gauges to be operational until such a time when Nigeria attains that level where we have in place the standard gauge rail tracks and then the rail system, we can now dedicate the standard gauge lines for freight” the minister said.
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