Abuja-Kaduna rail project coaches to begin test-run March 31 – Minister

Coaches for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Modernisation Project have arrived in Lagos and will begin test-run by March 31, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, has said.

He made the disclosure when Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATCA), paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.

The minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to test-run the rail project to ensure that by May, the project could commerce commercial activities.

“The coaches have arrived, I was to inspect them on Monday but unfortunately we lost our colleague, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, so I had to call off the inspection.

“We are making arrangements to bring the coaches to Abuja. I just signed the letter for China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), requesting for approval to test-run the coaches.

“We are still on target; the only problem we have is that of the Daughters of Charity Hospital, Kubwa, Abuja.

“The Certificate of Ownership has been signed and the Federal Government has paid the compensation, though not released to the hospital yet.

“But the CCECC is trying to be evasive with its corporate social responsibility commitment to the hospital, it previously agreed upon our request.

‘’CCECC is supposed to donate a building to the hospital. We are still discussing with the company.

“ I feel CCECC should support the hospital.

“It’s not too much because the company is making money on the project; the church practically offers services to the community,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Muktar Muhammed, CCECC’s Public Relations Officer, said the company was committed to its agreement to donate a building to the hospital.

He, however, said the company had yet to effect the agreement because it was expecting another payment to carry on with the project.

Mohammed said that as soon as the money was paid, CCECC would commence the building. (NAN)