Nigeria Requires $3 Billion for Light Rail System

The acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Jetson Nwankwo, Sunday said that US$3 billion would be required for the construction of a light rail system to improve the traffic situation in Lagos State.

Nwankwo told journalists in Lagos that the project might be financed either by the World Bank or the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State government.

He said that it could cost between US$3 million and US$6 million to construct a kilometer of modern rail depending on the terrain.

He, however, said there was nothing wrong in sacrificing such an amount for a state like Lagos, considering its role in the Nigerian economy.

“If you need to pull down some structures and pay compensation before construction, pull them down. Nothing is too much to sacrifice for the traffic problem in Lagos.

“If other countries are having underground metro system, why can’t Nigeria do it? We have to start from somewhere.

For instance, South Africa, because of the 2010 Olympic games, had built an underground train system to handle envisaged high traffic at the stadium.

“Let us have the political will to decide on the type of rail system we want. Whether a light train system, a metro line or a mono rail system.

He described the Lagos light rail system as feasible, adding: “I have gone round the state and most of the roads have space which can accommodate a rail line.”

Source African Press Agency

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