28th June, 2010
The ongoing rail tracks rehabilitation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos District has run into a hitch as some sections have been submerged.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that the newly-laid tracks at Agege, Yaba, and Ebute Meta areas had been washed off by flood caused by torrential rainfall.
The ballast stones were washed off while the tracks were also submerged by the rain water.
Between Ebute Meta and Iddo terminus, several sections were flooded while the Ebute Meta railway crossing leading to Apapa Ports was also not spared by the flood.
An official of the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), handlers of the project, who spoke to NAN on condition anonymity, attributed the washing off of the tracks to lack of drains.
“There should be a proper drainage network to divert the flood from the rail. We will soon start work on the drainage system,’’ he said.
Contacted, the Lagos District Manager of NRC, Mr John Dottie observed that the rehabilitation work was affected because of lack of drains.
“Until a proper drainage network is provided, the problem will continue to recur,’’ he said.
Efforts to get the NRC’s Managing Director, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade to comment on the matter were unsuccessful as he did not pick his calls or answer a text sent to him.