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Buhari Inaugurates 365km Itakp-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line

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  • 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
  • Ore mine with Ajaokuta Steel Mill was awarded to Julius Berger, and was later
    extended to include from Ajaokuta to Warri (Aladja Steel Plant and Jetty).
    The Contracts which were originally domiciled with the then Federal Ministry of
    Mines, Power and Steel, were eventually transfered to the Federal Ministry of
    Transport when the project was restructured to include transportation of passengers
    along Itakpe-Warri corridor in addition to the original concept of freight movement
    service for the steel industry.
    The further expanded scope of work included construction of a section of Railway
    formation and laying of tracks from near Agbarho to Delta Steel Mill at
    Ovwian/Aladja; completion of 20 overpasses and bridges; and construction of Level
    crossings, hydraulic drainage structures and associated works.
    Bayi, with joy, anounced to the gathering that, the 22Km track laying works from Ovu
    to Aladja has been completed; the overbridges and overpasses have also been
    successfully accomplished.
    The completed Railway and railway service facilities, Bayi said, include the
    maintenance Workshop and Warehouse; the Vehicle Maintenance depot and
    Workshop; the Railway Trucks Refuelling Station; First Aid Station; and the
    furnished Railway Station Offices
    Other completed works are the renovation and refurbishment of the Railway village,
    comprising of School building, Clinic, Recreational facilities, Fire Station, Police
    Station; and other ancilary buildings. “I am humbled to announce to this gathering
    that these structures mentioned above were constructed in accordance with
    international due diligence and best practice; a hallmark of Julius Berger Nigeria
    Plc”, said Bayi.
    The Julius Berger Executive Director prayed that the end users of the facilities will
    put them to use with the highest maintenance culture as a guide with a view to
    justifying the huge investment made by the government to put up these structures
    and its services.
    Bayi acknowledged the tremendously uncommon commitment of the Honourable
    Minister of Transport, the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and thanked him and his great
    team “for his kind and selfless work as well as nationalistic zeal, by which this project
    has been successfully realised”.
    Bayi also expressed Julius Berger’s gratitude to all the hardworking civil servants,
    community leaders, suppliers, youths, members of the Press, the company’s highly
    valuable workforce and, indeed, to every stakeholder who in one way or the other,
    contributed to the success of the project. He climaxed his appreciation by offering his
    utmost gratitude to the Almighty God whose grace and mercy, he said, enabled all
    stakeholders to work safely and progressively to achieve the laudable project
    success.
  • While wishing everyone who attended the ceremony a safe return to their various
    destinations, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi prayed to the Almighty to continue to unite,
    guide, protect and bless the Federal Republic of Niger

 

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