Ogun signs $3.2bn rail project with Chinese coy

The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has signed a $3.2bn light rail project contract with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company.The contract was signed on Monday at the Governor’s Office at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, where the Consul General, the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Kan Liu, was present.Amosun, who said that the proposed light rail would cover both inter-city and intra-city routes, explained that when operational, it would carry passengers and goods across major cities such as Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Agbara and Idiroko.He said, “The light rail project is in two phases. The first aspect will cut across the entire cities in the state,while the other phase will be for the Abeokuta metropolis.”Amosun said this project, which would be completed in three years, would greatly reduce the pressure on roads in the state, and enhance its infrastructural development.According to him, no nation developed without having the necessary infrastructure in place.The governor added, “Like I always emphasise, without functioning and proper infrastructure we cannot develop. This step we are taking today will help in technology transfer and bring positive impact on the lives of our people.“If you go to China today, the only reason they are now rated one of the economic powers of the world is because they have infrastructure in place; without infrastructure nothing can happen.“If you go to Dubai today, you will see infrastructure there, go to Europe, everywhere infrastructure must be there. Without infrastructure there cannot be any development.“When there is infrastructure you will have a positive impact on curbing security challenges.”Amosun assured the people of the state that all the ongoing road projects across the state would soon be completed, stressing that his administration would now shift its focus to the construction of rural roads tofacilitate development.The Chairman of CCECC, Mr. Cao Baogang, who reaffirmed that the project would be completed in three years, commended the governor for being a visionary leader. Baogang noted that the rail project would provide job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.He said the construction company would source soft loans for the project in China.