Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project: Communities’ Concerns To Be Addressed Before Handover

The contractor handling the 156 kilometre standard gauge rail line from Lagos to Ibadan has assured communities along the corridor that it will address all their concerns before completion and handover of the project.

China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its Media Adviser, Dr. Eshemokha Maho, noted that the clarification became necessary following recent agitation by some communities along the rail line over their request for an overhead bridge and a link road.

The statement cited Laderin and Alagada communities, which recently protested against the state of infrastructure in their areas. While Laderin asked CCECC to construct an overhead bridge across the rail line to connect villages in the area to the main road, the people of Alagada Community have requested that the company should reconstruct the link road in the community, which has been rendered impassable by flooding.

Both communities are in the Ogun axis of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line.The statement added that although building an overhead bridge in Laderin was not captured in the project, CCECC as an ethical company was committed to the development of local communities in all areas of its operations and was willing to address their complaints.

“We are working based on designs given to us by the contracting authority, as we cannot go outside the design without appropriate approvals. If we do that, it would amount to going outside the scope of the project and we could be sanctioned.

“However, we have long taken note of the communities’ concern and we are working with relevant government officials to ensure that the issues are appropriately channeled and addressed,” the statement reads.”

On the Alagada Community link road, Maho noted that CCECC was built on integrity, adding: “Yes, it is true that we promised to fix the road and work is in progress and it would be delivered soon.” He enjoined communities along the rail corridor to maintain the peace and cooperate with CCECC to ensure that it delivers the project on schedule, while it works towards addressing all the demands.

SOURCE: guardian.ng