By Michael Olatunji
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the Kajola Wagon Assembly, the first of its kind in West Africa, at Kajola, Ogun State, expressing the hope that it will help revitalize the nation’s ailing economy.
He also declared that the first set of wagons to be assembled at the plant would be purchased by the government and deployed to boost local logistics and freight services.
He described the project as one of the two Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) donated by the Chinese government in it’s commitment to shared prosperity with Nigeria on the rail sub-sector.
Buhari, who was represented by the Minister for Transportation Engr Mu’azu Jaji Sambo said the project was the culmination of Executive Order Number 5 which he signed to encourage economic prosperity if the country by promoting technology transfer by all all companies handling projects in the country.
Restating the Wagon Assembly plant as part of Federal Government’s commitment to job creation and the nation’s economic prosperity, Buhari explained that the plant, which has a locomotive and rolling depot has the capacity to assemble 500 open, container flat, or boxed wagons per year,
adding that out of 368 various categories of wagons usually awarded to Messrs CCECC, about 220 various wagons would be produced at the Kajola plant, pending when it would be transformed to full manufacturing plant.
“It is expected that the plant will generate huge demand for railway rolling stock not only in Nigeria, but in the sub-region of Africa.
Buhari expressed optimism that the federal government would soon take delivery of the second CSR project by the CCECC, which is the University of Transportation, Daura, which is to help in producing skilled manpower for the various aspects of railway transportation needs if the country adding that the graduands if the school as well as those on various scholarships by the contractor would soon complete their study and resume at the Kajola plant to contribute their skill and competence to the growth of the nation’s economy.
In his goodwill message CCECC Nigeria Ltd’s Deputy Managing Director Engr. Jacques Liao, congratulated Nigeria for the berth of a new dawn in it’s March to the sustenance of rail development, adding that it is expected to catapult Nigeria as a railway hub for West Africa and indeed the whole of the continent.
“This is the realization of shared growth that China hoped to cultivate with the Nigerian people and we are happy that the Buhari administration achieved it in record time,” he said.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation Mr Fidet Okhiria the project, which started like a joke will reposition Nigeria as a destination of choice for Africans, adding that its presence will also be a catalyst for the growth of the railway because there is improved access not only to wagons for freight services, but also for spare parts.
He added that the Corporation looks forward to the day that the facility would be fully and finally handed over to Nigerians as it’s railway assets, adding that it holds huge potentials for economic diversification which was a huge initiative that the Buhari administration was committed to.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry if Transportation Dr Magdalene Ajani in her welcome address described the assembly plant as one of the legacy projects of the Buhari administration that is “designed to ensure the economic sustainability of the railway development in the country,” adding that the ministry remained committed to railway modernisation and expansion of transportation and intermodality of the modes in the interest of the nation’s economy.
She said: “The plant is expected to create 5000 direct and indirect jobs and provide employment opportunity for local key staff at top, middle and low levels. The Assembly Plant with time will be transformed to a manufacturing plant that is capable of producing important components of railway parts that will meet the needs of railway transportation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”
She commended the government and the good people of Ogun State for their support before and during the execution on the contract adding that they should continue to support the contractor in making g the best out of the facility because if it’s huge economic impact in the foreseeable future.
Hon. Tajudeen Obasa, representing Ojo Federal Constituency, who read a joint message by the Committee on Land Transportation described the Kajola Plant as another “promise made, and promise kept by the Buhari administration.
Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport Senator Tolulope Odebiyi, who hails from Ogun State said the Buhari administration would not be forgotten in the annals of railway development in the country, adding that the project would further boost the profile of the government and people of Ogun State.