Nigeria’s railway system is set for a turnaround as 10 trains ordered by Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in May this year have reportedly rolled off the production line of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Nanjing Puzhen Co., Ltd., on September 12.
The trains are said to have adopted Chinese standards and will be the fastest trains running in Africa. They are also said to also have a design speed of 160 km/h.
According to reports, Gbenga Ashafa, chairman of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Land Transport, was said to have inspected the trains on Tuesday September 12, in China. He who was part of a ministerial delegation from Nigeria to inspect the trains.
During the inspection, he Said: “Allow me to seize this opportunity to tell you that Nigeria is a fertile land that is open to foreign direct investments. With our growing population and skilled manpower, you are not only guaranteed your return on investment, but also local content with which to maximize your investments.”
Going further, he said: “Let me quickly state, that I am here in my capacity as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport to represent the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What this translates to, is that I must work together with this contingent to ensure that the coaches we are here to inspect before delivery are befitting, contemporary and justify value for money.”
Recall that the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had promised that the federal government would ensure the completion of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail services by December 2018. Amaechi gave the assurance in Lagos while inspecting the ongoing rail projects at Ijoko community area of Ogun state. The minister said that the federal government was making all efforts to ensure the completion of the project as scheduled.