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as Julius Berger thanks the Federal Government for Entrusting Company withthe Construction of the Strategic ProjectHis Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on Tuesday commissionedthe Itakpe-Warri rail line and facilities for commercial operations. The Presidentperformed the commissioning virtually from his office in Abuja where interfaced livewith the ceremony via telecast.The nation’s leader’s appearance at the well attended event was heralded by asimultaneous rendition of the National anthem at both the President’s Office and atthe Agbor Delta State physical venue of the commissioning ceremony.On ground to receive the President was the Executive Governor of Delta State, HisExcellency, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. Also in attendance at the event was theExecutive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The Honourable Minister ofTransportation, the Rt. Hon. Amaechi Rotimi Chibuike as well as his counterpartfrom the Federal Ministry of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed were also present atthe ceremony in Agbor. The Honourable Minister of State for Labour andProductivity, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, was also prominently present at theevent in Agbor. Traditional rulers from all across the Niger Delta region also gracedthe occasion, and the monarchs performed the traditional Kolanut presentation,support and breaking ceremony to the excitement, admiration and applause of thelarge number of citizens who thronged the venue of the ceremony.Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was ably representated by a strong delegation led by thecompany’s Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi, FNIOB.Bayi represented the Managing Director, Engr. (Dr.) Lars Richter, whom he said wasunavoidably absent due to a pre-scheduled engagement for which he is presentlyoutside the country.Bayi, who said it was his singular honour and privilege to stand before the augustgathering also said he was at the event in a representative capacity to deliver JuliusBerger’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 hisprofound regrets for his absence at the event which he had very ernestly lookedforward to attending personally. Bayi, thereafter, looked at the cameras andpointedly offered Dr Richter’s sincere congratulations the President for the successof the project. Bayi also extended Julius Berger’s felicitations to the “indefatigableHon. Minister of Transport and his team as well as to the Nigerian nation on thisepoch-making event”. The success of the project, Bayi said, “is a clear testimony ofMr President’s resolve to provide and improve lasting infrastructural amenities whichimpacts 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 1987when the Contract for the Construction of 51Km Railway line linking the Itakpe Iron
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Ore mine with Ajaokuta Steel Mill was awarded to Julius Berger, and was laterextended to include from Ajaokuta to Warri (Aladja Steel Plant and Jetty).The Contracts which were originally domiciled with the then Federal Ministry ofMines, Power and Steel, were eventually transfered to the Federal Ministry ofTransport when the project was restructured to include transportation of passengersalong Itakpe-Warri corridor in addition to the original concept of freight movementservice for the steel industry.The further expanded scope of work included construction of a section of Railwayformation and laying of tracks from near Agbarho to Delta Steel Mill atOvwian/Aladja; completion of 20 overpasses and bridges; and construction of Levelcrossings, hydraulic drainage structures and associated works.Bayi, with joy, anounced to the gathering that, the 22Km track laying works from Ovuto Aladja has been completed; the overbridges and overpasses have also beensuccessfully accomplished.The completed Railway and railway service facilities, Bayi said, include themaintenance Workshop and Warehouse; the Vehicle Maintenance depot andWorkshop; the Railway Trucks Refuelling Station; First Aid Station; and thefurnished Railway Station OfficesOther completed works are the renovation and refurbishment of the Railway village,comprising of School building, Clinic, Recreational facilities, Fire Station, PoliceStation; and other ancilary buildings. “I am humbled to announce to this gatheringthat these structures mentioned above were constructed in accordance withinternational due diligence and best practice; a hallmark of Julius Berger NigeriaPlc”, said Bayi.The Julius Berger Executive Director prayed that the end users of the facilities willput them to use with the highest maintenance culture as a guide with a view tojustifying the huge investment made by the government to put up these structuresand its services.Bayi acknowledged the tremendously uncommon commitment of the HonourableMinister of Transport, the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and thanked him and his greatteam “for his kind and selfless work as well as nationalistic zeal, by which this projecthas 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 highlyvaluable 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 hisutmost gratitude to the Almighty God whose grace and mercy, he said, enabled allstakeholders to work safely and progressively to achieve the laudable projectsuccess.
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While wishing everyone who attended the ceremony a safe return to their variousdestinations, 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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