PRESS RELEASE:FCTA TO CLEAR ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ON RAILWAY CORRIDORS

Preparatory to the opening of test run to the public, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed relevant FCTA agencies to clear all illegal settlements and structures obstructing the FCT railway corridor and station access ways.

Malam Bello gave this charge when he embarked on a test ride of the train service and inspection tour of the rail stations. 

Bello, who was led on the inspection by officials of CCECC Nigeria Ltd – the rail construction company, also directed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to speed up works on the opening of access   roads to the 12 railway stations.  This, the Minister stressed, is to make it possible for passengers to gain access to the train services which, he indicated, will start in a few weeks’ time.

The test ride which took the Minister and his entourage round the 12 railway stations spread across the scenic landscape of the rail network, gave the riders an exciting preview of what commuters expect to have upon the commencement of the train services.

At the end of the inspection, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done in the railway project and commended the contracting firm and consultants for a good job.

Conveying his thanks through the Deputy General Manager of CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Huong Xiang Qiam, the Minister said, “Thank you very much for an excellent delivery, we are very satisfied with the quality of works that has been done. What remains now is to recover the railway boundaries, clear the corridors and provide access ways to the stations. This we hope will be done in the next few weeks to enable us commence the test services”.

“We hope to open the stations for operations in the next few weeks and we don’t want a situation where the train would be competing for space with illegal structures and settlements”, the Minister said.

The Minister then directed the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Malam Shuaibu Umar to commence sensitization meetings with the stakeholders in the various railway corridors over illegal settlements around Kukwaba, Dei Dei, Gwagwa, Kuchigoro and others, with a view to giving them enough time to vacate the railways corridors and station access ways.

Briefing the Minister during the inspection tour, the Transport Secretary, Comrade Kayode Opeifa stated that the Stadium Station would be serviced by an underpass tunnel and is designed to provide traffic relief for the city during sporting and other social events in the stadium.

The 12 completed stations include the Metro, Stadium, Wupa, Kukwaba 1 and 2, Gwagwa and Dei-Dei train stations. Others are the Idu, Bassanjiwa, Airport, Kagini, Bazango stations.

Cosmas Uzodinma 
Chief Press Secretary