The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has prolonged the contracts of two personal safety corporations for 2 years, securing the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) system till 2026.
Dr. Elechi Chinedum, Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transport Secretariat, made the announcement on Monday throughout a briefing in Abuja, although the identities of the corporations weren’t disclosed.
He highlighted that ARMT operations, which started a trial section in 2018, had been disrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns in 2019, leading to vandalism of the rail line and telecommunication cables.
On condition that the FCTA had already awarded a multi-billion Naira contract to rehabilitate the broken infrastructure, Chinedum emphasised that renewing the safety contract turned essential to safeguarding the rail system and making certain a hitch-free operation.
“The surveillance by the 2 safety corporations led to a drastic drop within the vandalisation of the amenities.
“Now the contracts have simply expired, and as you recognize, we have now commenced full business operations after the inauguration in Might 2024,” Chinedum mentioned.
He added, “So, the contract is necessary as a result of if one single cable is vandalised, it can distort the operations of the practice for a very long time.
“That’s the reason it turned crucial for the contract to be renewed from 2024 to 2026, a two-year cycle.”
The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transport Secretariat pressured that this renewal aligns with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s dedication to making sure the sleek and safe operation of the ARMT system.
What it’s best to know
The Abuja Rail Mass Transit, constructed by China Civil Engineering Development Firm (CCECC) and inaugurated in 2018 beneath former President Muhammadu Buhari, confronted delays in full operations resulting from lacking infrastructure, equivalent to entry roads, and disruptions from the COVID-19 lockdown.
- To handle these, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) beneath the administration of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, allotted a number of budgets, together with a N5 billion contract to CCECC for rehabilitation in August 2023 and an extra N5.5 billion in October 2023 for entry roads alongside the rail route.
- Additional help got here with a N29 billion allocation within the 2024 FCTA statutory price range to reinforce the challenge’s sustainability.
- In Might 2024, Section 1 passenger operations launched, and President Bola Tinubu launched a two-month free journey initiative, later prolonged till the tip of 2024, considerably boosting public curiosity and ridership.
By September 2024, over 250,000 passengers had used the system in simply over 100 days of economic operations, showcasing its rising impression.
Be First to Comment