Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has disclosed that phase one of the Ogun State Light Rail project would be due for delivery and commissioning by the first quarter of 2019.

Governor Amosun, who disclosed this on Monday while unveiling the Ogun State Light Rail project at the First International Rail Conference, said the project would commence in January 2017.

The governor assured that his administration is committed to growing the state’s economy from a paltry N20 billion to over N100 billion in 10 years, through land use as well as industrial and commercial development.

“The first phase of the project will include a 57km Agbara – Berger, 54km Ofada – Sagamu and 84km Abeokuta – Sagamu – Ijebu Ode rail project among others,” Amosun said.

He further revealed that the project is also targeted at meeting the housing deficit of neighbouring Lagos state, through intercity rail network.

This, he said, will help to explore strategic linkage with the economy of Lagos and the West African sub region.

He added that the Ogun State rail project, when completed, would further spur the development of the state in the agricultural sector.

Governor Amosun, who noted that no nation in all parts of the world move goods on road like Nigeria, said the project would help to reduce the daily pressure on Nigerian roads.

He added that the Ogun State rail project, when completed, would further spur the development of the state in the Agricultural sector.

In his speech at the event, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Mohammed Babakobi, said the Federal Government intends to generate not less than 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs through rail system modernisation.

Amaechi stated that the over 117 year-old rail system in Nigeria requires urgent modernisation, expressing the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitating and refurbishing existing rail infrastructure as well as building new ones in order to widen the rail network.

Mr. Biodun Otunola, Managing Director, Planet Projects Limited, the organisers of the first International Rail Conference, with the theme, “Nigeria Railway Industry Moving from the 19th to 21st Century”, observed that the nations’ economy will not grow if the rail system is not fixed.

He however commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for committing over N10 billion to rail project.

•Photo shows Governor Amosun fielding questions with newsmen.