Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the Federal Government may send 300 Nigerians to Portugal to study railway engineering. This would be the contribution of the contractor of the Kano-Maradi rail line – Messrs Mota-Engil Nigeria Ltd, a Portuguese firm to fst track technology transfer.
Recall that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) handling the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge had in 2019 sent 300 Nigerians to China under the same scheme to train Nigerians on railway engineering. Amaechi said the 300 to be sent to Portugal will study the technology involved in the building of Kano-Maradi rail line.
Disclosing this via his Twitter handle on Monday, Amaechi said, “In 2019, we sent 300 Nigerians to China for training in Railway Engineering.
“This year, we’ll be sending another 300 to Portugal to study the technology in the building of the Kano-Maradi rail-line, which is purely European.”
“The ground-breaking ceremony would formally kick off work on the 284km standard gauge rail project to be undertaken by Messrs Mota-Engil Nigeria Ltd, a Portuguese firm.
“The Project traverses Kano-Dambatta-Kazaure-Daura-Mashi-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic.
The line, according to the Minister, has been designed to pass through major cities, towns and villages without dividing them to facilitate public transportation and stimulate economic diversification and the development of the agricultural economy and manufacturing industries along the corridor.
The project is planned to have a total of 15 stations including Maradi which comprises two main stations in Kano and Katsina, three medium stations in Kazaure, Daura and Jibiya, three small stations in Shagalle, Dambatta and Mashi, with other Halt stations at the Airport, Kunya Dube, Muduru, Daddara, Anoal Mata and Maradi.
“The rail line which has a branch line to Kano-Dutse is important because of it potential in harnessing raw materials and agro products along the corridor,” Amaechi said.
The ground breaking which will be done by President Muhammadu Buhari will be attended by the Minister of Transportation of Niger Republic, Governors, Ambassadors, Ministers of both countries and other stakeholders in the sector.