Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says
General Electric (GE) and the China Civil Engineering
Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC), will build
universities of transportation in Nigeria.
Speaking at The Osasu Show symposium in Abuja on
Friday, Amaechi said the government is not only
focusing on making the rail lines in Nigeria work, but
also building capacity for Nigerians.
The minister said the two major construction
companies building the rails across Nigeria, will also
build universities of transportation to train and
empower Nigerians to build locomotives in about 10 to
15 years.
Amaechi said by the end of 2017, CCECC will be taking
about 100 Nigerians to China to learn at
undegraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels to return
to Nigeria as faculty for the university of
transportation.
The former governor of Rivers state however added
tthat Nigeria’s fabrication of locomotive as taught at
the upcoming universities will be hinged on the ability
of the Ajaokuta Stell mill to function effectively.
“In the next 10 to 15 years, we should be able to
fabricate locomotives, fabricate coaches — but in
fabricating locomotives and coaches, we need to fix
Ajaokuta steel mill,” Amaechi said.
The minister also revealed that CCECC will deliver on
the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano rail line
by December 2018.
He said the development of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure
will create many jobs and grow the nation’s economy.
TheCable
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