After 35 years of its abandonment, the Federal Government officially commenced a test run of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta- Warri standard gauge line on Friday.
The Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi was led on the nine hour ride which took him through the entire 154 kilometre stretch by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Mr Fidet Okhiria and other top officials of the NRC.
The test run is sequel to opening the line for commercial activity, which according to Amaechi may begin by September.
The line was Nigeria’s foremost industrial line, originally conceived to exclusively service the solid mineral belt, taking iron ore from Itakpe to Ajaokuta and Jakura and transporting finished products as well as bringing foreign components from Warri.
Amaechi and his team rode in a first class standard gauge coach.
The Minister however expressed his dismay over the slow pace of work on the line by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC).
The Buhari government had with an addendum in 2015, adjusted the original plan to include passenger element.
The major component of the addendum was the construction of 12 modern stations with two to be located between Itakpe and Ajaokuta, and 10 between Ajaokuta and Warri.
These are Itakpe Station, Eganiy Station, and Adobe Station, all located within Itakpe, and Ajaokuta Station.
Others are; Itogbo, Age ebode, Uromu, Egehen, Igbanke, Agbor , Abraka Okpara and Ujewu Stations. None has taken off between Itakpe and Ajaokuta, while only three, between stations five to eight have witnessed some level of activity.
All were projected to have been completed in June, awaiting commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari by August.
The Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, evaluation the situation said the commissioning would be cancelled.