FG To Commission Rail Assembly And Manufacturing Plant In Kajola, Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will on Friday 8th of November, 2019 accompany the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to the ground breaking ceremony of the planned Railway Wagon assembly plant in Kajola, Ogun State.

The Ministry on behalf of the Federal Government had in March 2018 signed an agreement with the Chinese rail contractor CCECC to establish the Wagon Assembly plant where rolling stocks would be produced locally for the on-going Railway Modernization Projects.

When established, the plant is expected to produce part of the Wagons which would be used on the Lagos – Ibadan, Abuja – Kaduna, Ajaokuta – Warri Railway Lines operations and for other rail way operators.

Furthermore, the plant upon completion and commencement of production is expected to employ nearly five thousand (5000) Nigerians. As demand increase for rolling stocks. The capacity of the plant would be expanded to include in the first phase assembly of coaches and locomotive.

Altogether, the project would serve as a catalyst for national economic growth and development as enshrined in federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and Local Capacity for the production materials and products underpinned by the Presidential Executive Order No. 5.

See the proposed site and location

Check Out The New Date For The Lagos-Ibadan Road Diversions To Open - Photos

The Federal Government is set to reopen all diversions around construction zones on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to motorists ahead of the Christmas festivity.

The Director of the Federal Highways, South-West, Funso Adebiyi disclosed this during his interaction with truck drivers in Ogere, Ogun State on Monday.

This directive will take effect from December 15.

Adebiyi said the decision was to ensure free flow of traffic during the Christmas period, adding that work would resume after the season.

He also ordered truck drivers to either relocate or move backwards by at least 50 metres from the construction zone, saying the activities of the truck drivers have made the reconstruction of some sections of the road almost impossible.

According to Adebiyi, about 65 kilometres of the road had been completed – 20 kilometres on Section 1 from the Old Toll Gate to Sagamu interchange being handled by Julius Berger and 45 kilometres on Section 2, from the interchange to Ibadan being handled by the RCC.

Meanwhile, check out some pictures from our archives of the ongoing construction being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC at Kara Bridge at the Lagos Ibadan Expressway

Read: See The State of The Road Of Ibadan Circular Road That Oyo State Government Paid ₦67billion For - Photos

See More Of The New Trains That Will Used For The Lagos-Ibadan Railway - Photos

Recently, we reported on the Abuja Light Railway recently, in the report, we gave an exclusive report of the train that will be used at the Abuja Light Rail that will run exclusively on Abuja railway.

It will be recalled that Some few days, the minister of transportation was at CRRC head office in China where he went to inspect the trains that will be used for the Lagos-Ibadan rail and the Abuja Light railway. While some of the trains are already on their way to Nigeria, the second batch is expected to berth in Nigeria soon if all plans go well.

We got some exclusive images of the new locomotive trains that will run on the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja Metropolis as they are currently undergoing painting and testing from the factory.

It will be recalled that the minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has given the contractor Nov 30th deadline for a test run to start from Ebute-Metta in Lagos to Ibadan.

Lagos-Ibadan Railway: Amaechi Embarks On Site Inspection Of All Stations To See Progress of Work

In as much as mobility, infrastructure and transportation are concerned in Nigeria, trust us to be your eyes and ears. The Lagos Ibadan Railway project is a massive project that lots can't wait to see the actualization, to some, it's a project that's taking too long to complete.

Some days back, we featured the Ibadan Axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway where we did a photo documentary of the railway from start to finish.

Tolu Ogunlesi, the special assistant to the President on New Media was on tour with Nigeria's minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi his wife Judith Amaechi during the inspection of Lagos-Ibadan Railway modernization where they inspected the ongoing construction at the Ebute-Metta axis. According to Tolu, the Ebute-Metta terminal will be the biggest of all the stations that are being constructed. For the records, there will be 10 Stations on the Lagos Ibadan Rail Line, across 3 States: Lagos, Ogun and Oyo.

Below are the list of the stations across the 3 states...

• Apapa
• Lagos Main (Ebute Metta)
• Agege
• Agbado
• Kajola
• Papalanto
• Abeokuta
• Olodo
• Omi-Adio
• Ibadan Main (Moniya)

[Moniya will also be home to an Inland Container Terminal]

From Ebute-Metta, the team went to Agege where another station will be sited and currently undergoing construction. According to Rolu, earthworks ahead of track laying (The existing Tracks you can see belong to the old narrow-gauge line, which is also being rehabilitated in sections alongside the construction of the standard gauge line). One of the major challenges of the workers has to do with population and a preponderance of gas and water pipes, buildings, markets, etc. as culverts, underpasses, overpasses, etc all need to be constructed in built-up areas. A major undertaking and challenge for the CCECC team.

The minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi was in China two weeks ago where we went to inspect and test the trains that the federal government bought for the Lagos-Ibadan Railway and the Abuja-Kaduna rails, also he was in Russia some few days back where he went to sign an MoU with his Russian counterpart for the Railway project in Nigeria. The minister of transportation is not resting on his oars in making sure that the CCECC deliver and they deliver using the world-class materials and expertise.

There is a section on the train where you can hold conference meeting and business talk while on board. There’s a nice-looking boardroom here on this Test Train. I wonder if this design will be available on the operational Trains - hold your board meeting en route to Ibadan, tour the City, and catch a return train to Lagos. All in a day’s work.

After the inspection from Agege and Iju, the team rode on to Kajola. According to Tolu,  We are now at Kajola, in Ogun State. [There’ll be a Station here] On Nov 8, 2019, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony on this site for a Wagon Assembly Plant - in the first instance. Eventually, locomotives & coaches will be locally-manufactured here. The team went on to inspect the station at Kajola and see the level of work done as well...

After accessing all the stations, the minister of transportation while addressing the contractors said, I want (Free) Trial Runs for Lagos Ibadan Rail to start on the 30th of November, from Ebute Metta all the way to Ibadan. Also, all minor stations must also be completed by the end of November.

So far,  the Lagos Ibadan Rail tracks have been laid between Kilometer 23 and Kilometer 157. The ongoing phase of the track laying is now between KM 4 (Ebute Metta) and KM 23. The most challenging bit, considering it’s within the Lagos metropolis. The weather has been a big challenge to the pace of work. Plenty rain, slowing down work. Also Lagos Traffic conditions. The minister further stated that We agreed with the Chinese that they will build a Wagon Assembly Plant in Nigeria. They will start off assembling wagons, 5 years after, will start manufacturing wagons and assembling of locomotives and coaches; 10 years later, will start manufacturing locomotives and coaches.

It will be recalled that the Chinese contractors will in addition to building aWagon/Locomotive/Coach Assembly/Manufacturing Plant in Ogun State, also build a University of Transportation in Katsina State, to develop rail talent and capacity in Nigeria.

Another place where the minister and his crew inspected is the Abeokuta axis. Abeokuta Station is at KM 82. Terminal point is KM 157. These are images of the Abeokuta axis

Abeokuta Station

Kajola Axis..

Agege/Iju 

 Ebute Metta Station

Ibadan, Moniya