The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that there are possibilities for residents of Abeokuta or Ibadan to now work in Lagos with the new standard gauge rail line.
The Lagos Railway District Manager, Mr Jerry Oche, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos said that the nearly completed Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would open lots of opportunities for various communities within the railway corridors.
This is a huge opportunity, many people will prefer to live in Abeokuta and work in Lagos due to the speed and timeliness of the new train. According to him, when completed will travel at 150km per hour and Lagos-Ibadan is the 156km journey through the standard gauge.
“So, you can reside in Ibadan and be working in Lagos which is a very good development. “The train travelling with such speed will curtail the menace of gridlocks in the cities and relieve the highways from unnecessary pressure.
This would also bring vast job opportunities and social advantages to the youth, the populace. “The perishable goods at the various communities will now be easily transported to the city where the demands are higher, thereby reducing the cost of goods and services,’’ Oche said.
NAN reports that Mr Fidet Okhiria, the NRC MD, had said that it would test run the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line early in February. He disclosed that “They have done a lot in laying of tracks between Abeokuta, Itori, Papalanto, Kajola, Ijoko towards the Lagos corridor.
“Within seven days the track laying will reach Iju towards Agege corridor of Lagos State. “From here to Iju is 10 kilometres, and we are laying 1.5km on daily basis and by the first week of February, we will do a test run to Abeokuta from Lagos. #NRC
