Residents Raise Alarm Over Stalled Gwagwa-Airport Rail Project In Abuja
Residents along the Gwagwa-Airport railway corridor in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing critical components of the Abuja rail project, accusing the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, of abandoning the work.
The residents warned that the continued inactivity at the project sites had exposed valuable railway installations to vandalism, with some materials allegedly being removed.
One of the residents, Abubakar Rilwanu, said construction activities along the corridor had remained stalled for about one year and five months, particularly the installation of power supply infrastructure and other essential facilities required to make the railway stations operational.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Rilwanu noted that the Gwagwa-Airport corridor accommodates three of the 12 railway stations along the route connecting Abuja’s Central Business District to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
He described the situation as disappointing, particularly given the importance of the railway project to the country’s transportation infrastructure.
According to him, the prolonged delay has left critical installations vulnerable to vandalism, as residents continue to witness the alleged removal of valuable materials from the project sites.
He called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to intervene, investigate the circumstances surrounding the delay and compel the contractor to return to work.
Rilwanu also highlighted the economic benefits of completing the outstanding components, arguing that connecting the railway stations to the national electricity grid would reduce the government’s dependence on diesel-powered generators and lower operational costs.
He questioned why a multinational construction firm with an international reputation would allow such an important infrastructure project to remain unattended for an extended period.
The resident further warned that the situation could undermine public confidence in the government’s infrastructure development efforts, particularly as the project is located in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Another resident, Ishaya Madaki, also criticised the prolonged delay, expressing surprise that the supervising ministry had yet to take decisive action to address the situation.
Madaki said the stagnation of a major railway project was particularly troubling at a time when the government was committing substantial borrowed funds to infrastructure development.
He noted that the situation sent a negative signal about the administration’s commitment to delivering critical infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain the reaction of CCECC Nigeria Limited were unsuccessful, as calls to the company’s designated public enquiry line were neither answered nor returned as of the time of filing this report.
The residents have urged the Federal Government, the supervising ministry and other relevant agencies to investigate the alleged abandonment, address the reported vandalism and ensure the timely completion of the outstanding works to enable the railway stations become fully operational.
