as Julius Berger thanks the Federal Government for Entrusting Company with
the Construction of the Strategic Project
His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on Tuesday commissioned
the Itakpe-Warri rail line and facilities for commercial operations. The President
performed the commissioning virtually from his office in Abuja where interfaced live
with the ceremony via telecast.
The nation’s leader’s appearance at the well attended event was heralded by a
simultaneous rendition of the National anthem at both the President’s Office and at
the Agbor Delta State physical venue of the commissioning ceremony.
On ground to receive the President was the Executive Governor of Delta State, His
Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. Also in attendance at the event was the
Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The Honourable Minister of
Transportation, the Rt. Hon. Amaechi Rotimi Chibuike as well as his counterpart
from the Federal Ministry of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed were also present at
the ceremony in Agbor. The Honourable Minister of State for Labour and
Productivity, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, was also prominently present at the
event in Agbor. Traditional rulers from all across the Niger Delta region also graced
the occasion, and the monarchs performed the traditional Kolanut presentation,
support and breaking ceremony to the excitement, admiration and applause of the
large number of citizens who thronged the venue of the ceremony.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was ably representated by a strong delegation led by the
company’s Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi, FNIOB.
Bayi represented the Managing Director, Engr. (Dr.) Lars Richter, whom he said was
unavoidably absent due to a pre-scheduled engagement for which he is presently
outside the country.
Bayi, who said it was his singular honour and privilege to stand before the august
gathering also said he was at the event in a representative capacity to deliver Julius
Berger’s Managing Director’s goodwill message for the commissioning of the Itakpe-
Ajaokuta-Warri Railway facilities. Dr. Richter, Bayi said, has asked him to convey his
profound regrets for his absence at the event which he had very ernestly looked
forward to attending personally. Bayi, thereafter, looked at the cameras and
pointedly offered Dr Richter’s sincere congratulations the President for the success
of the project. Bayi also extended Julius Berger’s felicitations to the “indefatigable
Hon. Minister of Transport and his team as well as to the Nigerian nation on this
epoch-making event”. The success of the project, Bayi said, “is a clear testimony of
Mr President’s resolve to provide and improve lasting infrastructural amenities which
impacts positively on lives of citizens across the length and breadth of this nation”.
Alhaji Bayi traced the history of the Itakpe – Ajaokuta –Warri railway project to 1987
when the Contract for the Construction of 51Km Railway line linking the Itakpe Iron