Standard Gauge: NRC Set To Kick Start Evacuation Of Import, Export Goods From Apapa Port

Determined to decongest the port access roads in Lagos, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has concluded plans to kick start the evacuation of import and export goods in and out of the Apapa port through the newly constructed Lagos-Ibadan Standard gauge railway line to designated Freight Yards.

The designated freight yards where the export and import goods will be loaded and off loaded are located at Kajola, Abeokuta in Ogun state and Moniya in Oyo state.

To ensure that the target is met promptly, officials of the Lagos district of Nigerian Railway Corporation alongside consultant of the Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge railway project; TEAM Limited, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and some interested customers inspected the freight yards during the weekend.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with our correspondent, on this development, the Lagos District Manager of the corporation Engr. Augustine Erase said “We visited the freight yards at Kajola, Abeokuta and Moniya in Oyo state to inspect the space for loading and off loading export goods/empty containers and import goods”.

He stated further that the Kajola freight station has been designated for containers evacuated from Apapa port and are destined for companies at Agbara in Ogun state and environs (by road) while the Abeokuta and Moniya freight stations have been designated for goods destined for the Eastern and Northern parts of the country respectively by road.

According to him, the Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited, A.P Moller Terminal and ENL Terminal have been linked with standard gauge railway tracks for loading and off loading import and export goods.

Regarding passenger traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway corridor, Arase stated that there was upsurge in passenger traffic during the Sallah holiday but that the passenger traffic reduced after the holiday.