President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to commission the completed first phase of the Abuja light rail project this Thursday 11 years after the project was initiated.
The commissioning and flagging-off of the railway services by the President would mark the commencement of modern intra-city rail services in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to FCT Minister, Cosmas Uzodinma, indicated that the 45.245 kilometre standard guage rail line from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Abuja Metro station is the first of its kind in West Africa.
The Transportation Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kayode Opeifa, was quoted as expressing optimism that with the commencement of the world class rail services, the usual traffic gridlock in some parts of the FCT would be eased.
He described the rail system as of world class standard and constructed to provide speed and comfort to the passengers in the city.
The project was financed through counterpart-funding with the China Export Import (Exim) Bank which provided the 60 percent of the fund while the FCT administration provided the balance.
The Abuja light rail project construction was initiated by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2007 and the rail lines are networked to link 13 communities with 12 stations.
The stations are, the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba 1 and 2, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Airport, Gwagwa Dei-Dei, Kagini and Gbazango.”
