West Africa’s first-ever rolling stock assembly plant built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been completed in Kajola, Ogun state.
The plant will be commissioned soon to produce wagons for the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines.
It would also offer an essential platform for technicians, artisans, and others to gain specialized skills for the production and maintenance of rolling stocks.
At the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2019, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that the plant construction in Nigeria would generate about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs when completed and boost socio-economic activities.
His words:
“The plant, which is a private investment to be undertaken by Messers CCECC is central in the production of rolling stock, spare parts, and maintenance of equipment needed for the railway modernisation programme being implemented by this administration.
“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.”
The Federal Ministry of Transportation had, in March 2018, signed an agreement with CCECC Nigeria Limited to establish the plant for the production and assembling of rolling stock, spare parts, and maintenance equipment in Nigeria.
News.ng gathered that other African countries had shown interest in purchasing from the plant as it would be cheaper than from China or Europe.
