Amaechi calls for local production of train parts

The minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has called for the local production of materials used for the construction and maintenance of railway rather depend on China.

The Minister the development will not only lead to a change in government policy but it will also help the country conserve scare foreign exchange.

Amaechi made the statement during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project on Monday. He said that the government has reached an agreement with the Chinese that they should start assembling wagons.

He said five years after that, the Chinese should start producing wagons and assembling coaches and locomotives and ten years after that, they should start producing locomotives and coaches here.

“The Chinese argument is that if they produce, we will buy from them instead of buying from outside and I told them that we will enter into agreement to buy from them,” he said.

He expressed dismay over CCECC’s penchant to always want to bring almost every material from China, adding that the main reason the project was started was to grow the local economy.

“We have agreed here that minor stations should be completed. We have planned it this way, we do our inspection in November which means that by December the other coaches would have arrived.”

While calling on CCECC to hasten the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan rail track, the minister urged the company not to allow pressures to make it comprise on the quality and standard of the project.,

He assured Nigerians that the train services will commence November, 30th, 2019 in the Lagos-Ibadan rail line to enable them enjoy free ride for the month.

Amaechi, said the completion of the project from 19 kilometer rail track from Iju to Ebutta Metta requires to be accessed by residents in the area particularly movement of goods and services .

He said the reason for the delay is due to climate weather. “Why weather will be a problem is on the track and we are insisting that they must get to Ebute Meta.

“If we come back next month and their excuse remains weather related, there is nothing we can do. They just told me that out of the 30 days in a month, it rained 23 days,” he said.

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