Inadequate Funding Threatens Lagos Light Project


The plan by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to deliver the first phase of the Lagos light rail line project at the end of the year appears threatened by inadequate funds.
Lagos State Government is financing the construction of the 27.5km Blue Line, which has suffered a number of postponements since the contract was awarded to CCECC in 2008.

The first phase is to run from Marina to Okokomaiko.

In April 2008, the state government had approved N70bn for the project, with an estimated completion date of 2011.

But the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had, during a visit to the project site a couple of months ago, said that only the first eight kilometres of the rail line would be completed this year.

He was, however, optimistic that the Blue Line would be completed within a new stipulated time (2015) as 90 per cent of the structural work on the project was ready.

Deputy Managing Director of CCECC and Project Manager, Shi Hongbing, said the pre-castings for the rail bridge had been done and promised that before 2012, the company would complete the rail from Mile 2 to the National Theatre.

However, a source at the CCECC office in Lagos on Friday expressed doubt about completing the project on schedule.

For instance, the source said the Fashola administration was having “a major financial constraint at the moment and it is doubtful if it will be able to fulfill its financial commitment to the rail project; this may affect the pace of work.”

The official, who did not want his name published because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said the contractor could be compelled to place its labour force on suspension.

External Relations Specialist, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, said the agency was not competent to speak on funding, adding that it was in charge of supervising the project.

He insisted that only the state tender board or the ministry of finance could offer information about the funding of the light rail project.

Culled from PUNCH

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