Nigeria Takes Delivery of 10 Coaches from China In June As Ministers,others Visit CRRC
Nigeria is expected to take delivery of the first batch of 10 coaches, out of the 64 coaches expected from China in June 2019.
This was made known by the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Ameachi on Saturday, April 27, 2019, when he led a delegation to China to inspect the pace of work at the Chinese Railway Rolling stock Corporation(CRRC) Tangshan Co., Ltd.
The Minister requested that 10 coaches be delivered to Nigeria latest June to relieve the burden on the Abuja-Kaduna line as well as the Lagos-Ibadan line which will soon be ready.
According to him, “We need coaches by June latest. We need coaches that can carry men from one point to another and we need a minimum of 10 coaches now out of the 64.
“I requested for 10 coaches now because we need to improve on kaduna-Abuja line. If the 10 doesn’t come there is nothing I can do but it has to come because they have to manufacture for us to use in Kaduna-Abuja and again, Lagos- Ibadan will soon be ready, we also have to ensure that we get coaches that we can be using, pending when they finish construction of the 64 coaches”.
Amaechi, however noted that the pace of work is slow and urged the manufacturers to improve on it, adding that the contract span has expired, and more than one third of the money had been paid.
He pointed out that the issue is not with CRRC but a contract between Nigeria and CCECC, adding that it will be addressed in Nigeria.
While speaking, the General Manager, CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd, Mr. Zhou Junnian expressed excitement over the visit of the Nigerian delegation to the CRRC and for their trust.
Mr. Junnian explained that the passenger coach components are 100 percent from China, adding that materials for works depends on the speed of the product and the customer requirements.
He further stated that in the future, CRRC will work with the CCECC to meet the high standard and quality needed to finish the projects. 
The Minister also visited the CRRC Shandong, to inspect the cargo wagons being built for Nigeria, where he disclosed that there was a verbal agreement with the CCECC to localise the railway industry in Nigeria which was supposed to produce 15% of the coaches, locomotives and wagons.
Earlier, the Chairman CRRC Shandong, Mr. Wang Zichong spoke on the progress of the Nigerian wagon design and manufacture, noted that the design has been completed, adding that they have been purchasing the materials and prototype manufacture will be carried out as early as they can.
Zichong, stated also, that the specification for Nigeria’s localisation workshop has been completed. “We are preparing the fixture and equipment manufacture”, he added.
On when the assembly plant workshop can be completed, he stated that it can be done in six months if given the land.
The delegation made up of the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Ameachi, the Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Olugbenga Ashafa, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation and others, visited the CRRC Tangshan Steel structure workshop, General Assembly Workshop 1, Commissioning workshop and the Engineering Experiment Center, as well as the CRRC Shandong Wagon workshop.
