The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCEC) has raised hope on the timely completion of the Lagos-Ibadan rail-line and stations.

“We have the confidence to complete the project on time,” the Project Manager of Lagos-Ibadan rail-line, Mr. Xia Lijung, said today, Saturday, February 8, 2020, while addressing journalists on a train trip from Lagos to Ibadan and back.

Then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, turned the sod for the project in March 2016 while actual work started on June 26 that year. The Federal Government has set April this year as deadline for the delivery of the project by CCEC.

“The trial run started on December 2 last year. Everyday we have two trips,” Lijung said while illustrating the progress being made on the project.

The trial run, from Monday to Friday each week, sees passengers being conveyed free of charge. The train leaves Ibadan at 6:00 a.m. and begins the return journey from Lagos at 4:00 p.m.

The coaches are air-conditioned, with comfortable seats, centre tables, plenty legroom, neat conveniences and provision for the charging of mobile devices. There is also a Conference Coach as well as a VIP section fully equipped with settees and a large screen television.

During the trip, News Express noticed work being done at frenetic pace on modern train stations along the corridor. There are 10 of such stations from Lagos to Ibadan.

Already, the dual gauge is in place awaiting the full resumption of regular train services along the corridor in the next few months.

Apart from Lijung, among those who accompanied the journalists on the ride were CCEC Director, Communications & Corporate Culture, Mr. Vincent Liu; Business & Contract Manager at the Papalanto headquarters, Mr. Alan Chen; and Media Consultant, Prince Abdulrauf Akinwoye, a former Director of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC).

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