The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi is to meet with experts and other stakeholders over some challenges facing the completion of the third rail track at the Apapa Port.
Amaechi made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos shortly after his visit to the port.
Accompanied by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, among others, Amaechi said:“We have issues concerning whether or not to remove some structures.
“Luckily, the Nigerian Customs Service has agreed that we should remove the old scanner center in the port, but this will be difficult.
“We are going to have a meeting on what to do about the situation.
“We are working hard to find solutions to the issue of laying the last track. I am not an engineer but a policy maker.
“It is only when the engineers have come out with proper and time-based solution that the issue will be resolved.”.
He explained that despite the delay in completion of the last track, the project would soon be inaugurated, noting that the other two tracks at the port had already been completed.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria, stressed the need for rail transportation in the country.
He said that it would facilitate easier movement of passengers and goods.
“We are having meeting after the visit because if we remove the customs building it will increase the length from 750 metres to 850 metres.,” he said.
Okhiria said that rail transportation at the port would reduce multiple costs of handling goods and increase government revenue.
