Chinese begin training of Nigerians ahead of new Lagos-Ibadan railway handover

China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) has commenced the process of handing over the operation of the newly inaugurated Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway to Nigerians.

The CCECC has organised a one-month training for the NRC workers.

About 167 NRC workers and those of the Federal Ministry of Transportation participated in the training.

The 157-kilometre standard gauge commenced full commercial operation in June 2021 after it was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.  It is currently being operated largely by the Chinese with a few NRC workers understudying them.

The training is part of the sustainability plan after the handover of the operation to the NRC  as contained in the agreement the Federal Government signed with the Chinese firm.

The workers, it was learnt, were trained in various aspects of the railway operations such the sub-grade and structures, permanent way and introduction to various equipment, stations and communication, signaling and power supply system.

The Deputy Managing Director of CCECC, Xia Lijun, stated that the training was part of the processes to be observed preparatory to the final handover of the entire Lagos-Ibadan railway system.

He stated that there was no doubt that the participants have gained wealth of experiences from the training programme.

Lijun emphasised that the experience garnered so far would make the operation of the dedicated railway highly functional and meet up with the purpose for which the project was designed.

He enjoined all the trainees to be highly focused with full confidence in administering the knowledge already gained from the comprehensive training programme in both theory and practical processes.

Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, said the training was the first of its kind in the history of railway modernization which started a long time ago.

He stated that the knowledge garnered would help in improving the infrastructure the government is handing over to the NRC.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Mrs. Kemi P. Ogbonna, District Superintendent Western District, said the training had exposed them to the rudiments of running and maintaining a new railway such as the new Lagos Ibadan standard gauge