More than one month after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) endorsed the project, perceived by analysts as Nigeria’s pearl project, mum has been the word on the expected date of commencement of the construction of the $11.1bn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Railway.

Apart from making history as the country’s first East-West railway, this is likely to be a poster project for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as it has the potential of opening up several cities in the South West, South South and South Eastern parts of the country, to businesses, massive industrialization and jobs.

Haven finally completed and delivered the Warri-Itakpe Central Railway began in 1987 by the Military Government of General Ibrahim Babangida, the Buhari administration which has since 2019 awarded the contract to connect the rail line to Abuja, could also bask in the epic glory of initiating an East-West railway.

The project also has the potential for re-engineering the tourism industry since the rail line will be connected to Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State and can in later years be extended to connect the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State and the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State.

The fruition of the rail project will save busy highways like the Lagos-Ibadan, Benin Shagamu, Benin-Warri, East-West and the Benin-Onitsha expressways from the massive weight of heavy duty trucks and buses as it will open alternative transport outlet for the massive movement of people and cargo.

Although the Transport Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi had earlier at a gathering in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, assured the nation that construction on the rail line which will connect the West and Eastern part of the country will begin before the end of this year, little information has been heard about when the contractor of this crucial project will move to site.

Last month, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the sum of $11.17bn for the project to link all of Nigeria’s coastal cities by rail in six years.

Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, presented two memos which had to do with Federal Government’s commitment to expanding and consolidating on the rail project.

“The first one has to do with the Kano-Jibia rail and the other one has to do with the Port Harcourt-Maidugiri rail. Actually, what was approved today was funding to ensure that work starts immediately on those two rails.

“And then, also another memo that was approved today was the ratification of the President’s approval for the award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Standard Gauge,” he said.

Mohammed said it was an old project which was inherited by current administration.

Mohammed said that under the former administration, approval was given but nothing was done.

“Today, the council has given approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. This particular route is very important because after the Lagos-Kano route, this Lagos-Calabar Coastal route actually will link all the coastal cities in the country.

“Actually, the proposed route alignment is as follows; it will go from Lagos to Sagamu, Sagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin-City to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenogoa, Yenegoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, Obudu Ranch with branch lines from Benin-City to Agbo, Ogwashi-ukwu, Asaba, Onitsha and Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Sea Port.

“This particular route is very important especially for our coastal economy; the cost of the project is 11. 17 billion dollars,’’ he said.

According to him, the project is expected to be completed in six years.

The Federal Government had in July said the London based Standard Chattered Bank had agreed to fund the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project to the tune of $11bn.

TheNewsGuru.com, TNG had reported that the project was estimated to cost $14.4bn leaving the government with a balance of $3.4bn to complete the project.

This according to the online publication was revealed by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Amaechi in a statement.

According to him, the proposed rail line upon completion will pass through Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Ore, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Lagos.

“London-based Standard Chartered Bank offers to fund the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail with $11bn of the $14.4bn needed to build the project.

“The railline will pass through Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Ore, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Lagos!,” the Minister’s statement read.

The first phase of the project is to connect Calabar and Port Harcourt while the second phase will involve the connection of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Lagos.