By George Onah
Port Harcourt—Work has commenced on the first monorail in Africa, which is being built in Rivers State and is expected to cost $318 million, about N50bn.

The state government is to provide equity share of 20 percent while the foreign technical partners will contribute 80 percent of the counterpart funds.

Speaking at the casting of the first memorial column of the monorail at UTC bus stop in Port Harcourt, Commissioner for Transport, Mr. George Tolofari, said the project will be completed in two years.

Tolofari, who said the underground pilling of the project had been completed, explained that the outfit was being carried out under public private partnership with foreign partners and Rivers State Monorail Company.

“It is the first monorail in Africa and it would enhance transportation of people, goods and services in the state in no small measure, we will also ensure that the contractor carry out the project according to specifications and in line with international best practices”, he said.

Vanguard gathered that “the minimum life span of the project when completed is 50 years”, following which the CEO of the major contracting company Gen. Anthony Ukpo (rtd.) said the phase 1A of the monorail which starts from Sharks Park to UTC “is about 2.6 kilometres.”

Ukpo said “the job is expected to be delivered in about 18 months, if all odds are removed”, while the Manager, TREVI Foundation Kanamkudam John said it was a “great milestone to cast the first column 275B, explaining that about 240 feet piling had been installed and 90 percent of the phase 1 of the project had been completed.
“With good support the project weill be completed in 12 months”, John said.