Mr. Jaceques Liao, the Executive Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, recently assured that the Lagos-Ibadan rail project that is currently ongoing will be completed by April 2020.
Mr Liao disclosed this to journalists, yesterday, during a press briefing at the company’s headquarters in Abuja. According to him, the project is already about 79-percent completion. He, however, noted that track-laying is challenging.
Challenges: The Executive director went further to talk about the challenges his company has encountered in the course of doing business in Nigeria. According to him, the most challenging project executed by his company so far has been the Kano-Maiduguri Road.
He added that in April of 2019, five pieces of heavy equipment were destroyed by insurgents.
“Four of our trucks and heavy equipment were set on fire by the terrorists; security should be beefed up in that area,” he stressed.
Insecurity is also a major challenge affecting the completion of the rail. Liao maintained that insecurity along the axis where the rail would pass through has caused the delay. He, therefore, stressed the need for something to be done urgently in order to arrest the situation.
In the meantime, all hands are on deck: Speaking further, Mr Liao disclosed that about 5000 workers are working on the completion of the railroad. As soon as the tracks are laid, the remaining jobs would be easier to complete, he said.
“Despite the difficulties and challenges we faced sometimes in the course of executing some of these projects, we always deliver as scheduled quality jobs and this we are proud of. We are sure of concluding the rail project next year as planned.”
Homemade-Made Coaches: Liao further disclosed that plans are underway to assemble coaches in Nigeria instead of bringing in finished ones. This, he said, will create job opportunities for Nigerians.
