Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo Saturday, unveiled a rail Wagon Assembly Plant at Kajola in Ogun state.
Osinbajo at the official ground breaking 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 program being implemented by the administration.
He explained that Wagon plant will link the country’s ports to rail lines.
“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.
“Secondly, the citing of the plant here in Nigeria and the commitment to hiring Nigerians and Nigerian businesses affirms the Presidents directives in Executive Order 5 on prioritizing Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in the innovation, production and procurement of Engineering projects and services.
“The plant would offer an important platform for engineers, technicians, artisans and other professionals to gain the specialized skills required for the production and maintenance of rolling stock.
“This will invariably conduce to spin-off businesses in the region of operation and across the country wherever rail networks are in existence.
“The plant is expected to generate about five thousand (5,000) direct and indirect jobs,” he said.
Also, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the project is a direct investment of Messrs. CCECC Nig. Ltd in the country and would remain as part of the gains from the contract signed for the Supply of rolling stock.
He said this will be the first of its kind in Nigeria and the first batch of the wagons to be assembled from the production line of this plant will form part of the rolling stock for Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja -Kaduna railway operations.
“More so, we would be able to conserve our much needed foreign exchange which can be deployed to other areas of development.
“Among all these, it is cardinal to mention that the sustainability of our railway modernization projects would depend on our ability to develop local capacity to construct, maintain and manage our new railway system.
“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,” he said.
Also, the MD of CCECC, Mr Jiang Yigan, , said the company is impressed by Nigeria’s commitment in the past years.
