The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $45.3 million contract for the feasibility study and engineering design of a rail route linking four seaports in the South West viz Badagry Deep Sea Port, Tin Can Seaport, Apapa Seaport and Lekki Seaport to the hinterlands.
The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, disclosed this during the Global Business Report on Arise News, on Tuesday.
Alkali explained that the proposed rail alignment would run from Badagry Deep Sea Port to Tin Can Seaport, Apapa Seaport, Lekki Seaport, Ijebu-Ode and Kajola, where it would connect the Lagos-Kano-Maradi Railway Modernisation Project, to integrate the western seaports into the national rail network to boost freight movement and economic growth.
“FEC has approved for detailed feasibility studies and the engineering design of a proposed route alignment from Badagry Deep Sea Port to Tin Can Seaport, from Tin Can to Apapa Seaport, from Apapa Seaport to Lekki Seaport, and then to Ijebu-Ode and Kajola. At Kajola, it will connect to the Lagos-Kano-Maradi Railway Modernisation Project. The goal is to link the western ports to hinterland cities,” Alkali stated. “The contract was awarded for $45.3 million.”
The minister highlighted that only Apapa Port had been connected to the rail network, with a standard gauge track inside the APMT Terminal used for freight movement between Lagos and Ibadan. A rehabilitated narrow-gauge railway is also operational for cargo transportation from Lagos to Kano.
He further emphasised that linking all four western seaports to the hinterlands would significantly contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and stimulate economic activity.
