FGN Flags-off Construction of Railway Wagon Assembly Plant, to create 5000 jobs

Oru Leonard

The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged-off the construction of railway wagon assembly plant on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Kajola in Ogun, Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by his Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday flagged off the construction of wagon and accessories assembly plant to serve the railway system in Nigeria and beyond.

He noted that the venture is one of the strategies of the present regime to localise rail technology in Nigeria.

According to the VP, “The rail system of transportation holds the key to transforming commerce in Nigeria and across the continent by linking ports to rail lines”.

He stated that the project when completed was expected to produce some parts of the wagons for the Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja – Kaduna rail lines and also for the central rail lines to satisfy the needs of other rail operators within the West- African sub-region.

“With the building of the rolling stock locally, import and export business in Africa’s largest market will never be the same” Osibanjo added.

He also noted that citing of the plant in Nigeria and the commitment to hiring Nigerians and Nigerian businesses affirms the President’s directives in Executive Order 5 on prioritising Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in the innovation, production and procurement of engineering projects and services.

According to him, “The plant would offer an important platform for engineers, technicians, artisans and other professionals to gain the specialised skills required for the production and maintenance of rolling stock.

The foundation laid for the construction of Wagon Assembly Plant on Saturday will be the largest private investment by the China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCECC) in sub-Saharan Africa.

The plant will have the capacity to create 5000 direct and indirect jobs and boost export and import within and outside Nigeria.

The Vice President also said that President Muhammadu Buhari asked him to charge CCECC to commence work immediately and urged host communities where rail projects are located to cooperate with contractors for the speedy completion of the project.

“I have a message also from the President and this is to CCECC which is that we expect that you move on very quickly to the next phase of this project which is the assembly and construction of coaches and locomotives.

“This for us will be a significant breakthrough and we will be looking forward to hearing from you as quickly as possible when this will come into operation.”

Speaking on the essence of the factory, Osinbajo said: “The plant which is a private investment to be undertaken by Messers CCECC, is central in the production of rolling stock needed for the railway modernization programme being implemented by this administration.

“This ceremony is not just another event, it is a historic turning point. For us, the railway is not only an alternative and comfortable mode of travel, it holds the master key to transforming commerce in Nigeria and across the continent.

“By linking our ports to rail lines and now, building the rolling stock locally, import and export business within, into and out of Africa’s largest market will never be the same.

“When completed, it is expected that the plant would produce some parts of the wagons for the Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja – Kaduna rail lines, but also for the central rail lines and to satisfy the needs of other rail operators within the West- African sub-region” he revealed.

The VP commended the Minister of Transportation for the hard work demonstrated since the commencement of the railway re-modernization project.

Also speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the sustainability of the railway modernization projects depends on the country’s ability to develop local capacity to construct, maintain and manage new railway system.

He said: “It is on this note that we feel that this project is germane to the railway development in Nigeria and that Messrs. CCECC should be given every reasonable support to actualize this investment.”

Rt. Hon. Amaechi also explained that the location of the factory holds the key to the development of the economy of the nation from the commercial city of Lagos to the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria, Kano., adding that it will also serve any railway service in the West-African sub-region.

The Minister expressed that he was delighted in seeing the Vice President flag-off the event, which when completed, will help conserve foreign exchange as many of the components of the rail system would be manufactured locally.

“The success of our railway modernisation initiative will be hinged on the success of this plant and it would serve the west coast and the African continent,” Amaechi said.

Also speaking, the CCECC Managing Director, Mr Michael Jiang said the China government is determined to assist Nigeria develop a world class transportation system that would be the catalyst of growth and economic enhancement for the country.

Other Dignitaries present were the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebesola, Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Ibrahim Alhassan and his board members.