By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has finally declared the Abuja Light Rail is ready for commercial operations, ahead of the May 29th date for the official inauguration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike on Monday declared the Abuja Light Rail ready after the final inspection of the rail project.
The FCT Minister expressed satisfaction at the level and quality of the facility and stated that he has been able to deliver the Abuja Light Rail to Mr. President to mark his first year in office.
Wike said that the mass transit rail line will be fully open to commuters as an alternative means of transportation from the Central Business District, through communities along the airport road to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The FCT Minister said, “In a few days, the President will inaugurate the commercial operation of this Metro line. We have to thank God Almighty that we are good to go.”
“We are ready and you can see the facilities. So, we are very happy and we thank God that the promise Mr. President made has been kept.”
The minister further attributes the achievements of the FCT Administration to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Assuming we are not getting his support, this wouldn’t have been a reality. So, we want to thank him for the support, he said.
On the cost of funding details for the project, the FCT Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration was able to renegotiate the training cost for personnel from $128 million to $75 million, thereby saving about 53 Million Dollars for the Federal Government.
He said “Before we came, the former Administration approved $128 million for the training of our people by CCECC for 29 months, and we said no that’s very exorbitant. We renegotiated with CCECC and now it has been brought down to 75 million dollars. We have saved no less than $53 million US Dollars for the government.”
The Abuja Rail Mass Transit scheme spans through eight stations, the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba I, Kukwaba II, Wupa, Idu, Basanjiwa and Airport stations.
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