Kajola Wagoner Assembly Plant to generate job opportunities for Nigerians - Amaechi

Abiodun OBA |

Kajola Wagoner Assembly Plant would generate job opportunities for Nigerians and as well facilitate the much-desired objective of the government towards the local content capacity development

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi stated this at the ground breaking ceremony of the plant established by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Ogun.
“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.

“Subsequently, other rolling stock would be produced as its production capacities increase”, Amaechi said.

The Minister assured that Nigeria would be able to conserve our much-needed foreign exchange which could be deployed to other areas of development.
“It is cardinal to mention that the sustainability of our railway modernisation projects would depend on our ability to develop local capacity to construct, maintain and manage our new railway system,” Amaechi said.

Amaechi revealed that the Federal Government awarded contract for the procurement of Rolling Stock in order to address increasing demand on the new Nigeria Standard Gauge Railway Service adding that, It will also serve any railway service in the West-African sub-region.

“The Ministry of Transportation realising the need of the advantage to set up this type of plant considering the potential need in view of the on-going rail projects in the country and the sub-region encourage CCECC to establish this plant.

“It is expected that the plant would generate job opportunities for Nigerians and as well facilitate the much-desired objective of the government towards the local content capacity development.

“This project is therefore a direct investment of CCECC Nigeria Ltd in the country and would remain as part of the gains from the contract signed for the supply of rolling stock”, he affirmed.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director, CCECC, Mr Michael Jiang, said the company was committed to making Nigeria self-sustaining in the technology of rolling stocks.

He added that the country was moving to greater heights in the industry.
The plant is expected to generate about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.