Abuja Light Rail construction project, which involves setting up a light rail system in the capital is to be complete by October next year. the project, whose worth has been indicated as $US792 million according to reports, will be undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (ccecc).
The signing of a memorandum of understanding for this new light rail system was done in September.
Lined up for construction will be a track and rail stations, as well as depot and training facility. The new project will also involve installation of signaling equipment. The initial plan touches on having diesel traction, but the system will be switched to electricity when there is suitable supply.
The new light rail transport system will see connection of the central business district in the capital to the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport. The new rail will also serve the Idu industrial area. These will be high density and high traffic routes.
The first phase was, according to Minister for Federal Capital Territory Administration of Nigeria (FCT), expected to conclude before the end of 2015. The new rail project will also lead to employment of some 20, 000 people initially.
The government was also undertaking construction of state-of-the-art airport terminals across the country including in Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. There were also plans by government, for constructing an international airport at Kogi, a project expected to be completed by 2016.
