FCTA: We’ll spend $272m on construction of 5.76km rail track

The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) has unveiled plans to construct a 5.76km rail track in the nation’s capital.

Zakari Dobi, mandate secretary of the FCTA transport secretariat, disclosed this while inspecting the vandalised light rail track, station and Idu training centre on Monday in Abuja.

He said the total bill for embarking on the construction of the rail track as approved is $272 million.

Dobi explained that the secretariat was working assiduously to go back to the site for the construction of the 5.76km rail track and fixing of the vandalised areas of the track.

He said that the bill for the construction of the rail track was before the FCTA permanent secretary and it would then make its way to the FCT minister’s table.

He expressed optimism that the minister who had so much concern for the Abuja light rail project would quickly approve the bill.

“Two things informed this outing. Firstly, to be able to again evaluate and assess the level of vandalisation on the track,” NAN quoted him as saying.

”Secondly, to also look at the Training Centre at Idu Rail Station to be able to relocate some departments of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Transportation Secretariat due to challenges of office spaces in Area 11.

”What we saw was quite bad even though when I assumed office, I have been briefed about the issue of vandalisation.

“We have the intention to go back to the site for the construction of a 5.76 km rail track in Abuja. The cost of the construction, and also fixing the vandalised areas.

“We have seen some of the fresh areas that were vandalised and I want to believe that the projection made earlier on fixing the vandalised areas will still accommodate what we saw.”

He said that the vandalisation occurred as a result of a lack of operation.

According to him, the level of vandalisation would reduce if the operation was on constantly.

Dobi said the FCTA would fix all the vandalised areas.

”We are going to look at issues to see if we can come up with possible ways on how to stop the vandalisation completely but I do know that the first thing to do is to resume operation,” he said.