FURTHER attempts are being made to revive the fortunes of Nigerian Railway Corp. Marking the start of a major effort to rehabilitate around 2800 km of NRC’s 3505 km network, Permanent Secretary for Transport Babangida Aliyu announced on May 18 that six ’Sub-Project Engineering Teams’ had been set up to help rebuild the run-down 1067mm gauge railway.

The teams are expected to work closely with Italian consultancy Teamgroup, which in April was awarded a contract to study and oversee the rehabilitation programme. Its brief includes route surveys, preliminary design, preparation and evaluation of tenders and supervision of contracts.

Funding is likely to come from China, which has promised investment funds in return for oil. Guangdong Xinguang International Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian government covering construction of a fast rail link between Abuja and Lagos and airport rail links in both cities.

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