FG Domesticating Railway Technology, says Amaechi

The minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that if Nigeria failed to acquire the technology needed to operate the railway system currently being built by the Chinese, there was bound to be problems in future.

“The Chinese are constructing railways (and) if we don’t localise the technology, we will have problems in our hands when they go,” he said.

According to him, the Chinese were already being “encouraged to demystify” the railway technology hence the establishment of the University of Transport in Daura, Katsina State.

He further stated that the establishment of a centre in Kajola, Ogun State where coaches and locomotive engines would be manufactured, was also part of the measures to domesticate railway technology.

Alluding to criticisms that some parts of the country, especially the South-east is not included in the new railway networks being constructed by the federal government, Amaechi said: “I don’t believe in North, South, East or West in transportation infrastructure,” adding that the railway network connects the south as much as it connects the north.

The former governor of Rivers State assured the management of Gregory University that the federal government would provide the necessary support to achieve its dream of providing the needed technology and manpower in the transport sector.

(This Day)