The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has signed a landmark agreement with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to establish a state-of-the-art Railway Training Centre aimed at developing the skilled workforce needed to support the expansion of Lagos State’s rail transportation system.
The partnership comes as the Lagos State Government updates its Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), expanding the rail component from the original six rail lines and one monorail to 11 rail lines and one monorail, reflecting the state’s growing transportation demands and long-term vision for an integrated mass transit network.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, LAMATA Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, described the training centre as a strategic investment in human capital that would ensure Nigeria develops the technical expertise required to operate and maintain its expanding rail infrastructure.
According to Akinajo, significant progress has already been made in building local capacity through the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue and Red Lines.
“Since we started the Blue and Red Line operations, we have trained over 400 personnel, including train drivers, customer service representatives and operations staff,” she said.
She added that the Blue Line currently has more than 90 per cent local staffing, with only a small number of technical roles still being supported by foreign partners.
Akinajo noted that the expansion of the Strategic Transport Master Plan makes the establishment of a certified railway training institution both necessary and timely.
“The Strategic Transport Master Plan has now been updated to include 11 rail lines and one monorail. For a network of this scale to be sustainable, we need a proper certified training system covering signalling, maintenance, operations and customer service,” she said.
“Our goal is to ensure that the infrastructure we build is operated and maintained by Nigerians. This will guarantee the longevity of our transit systems, create meaningful employment opportunities for our youths and contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy.”
The signing ceremony was attended by LAMATA’s Technical Adviser for Public Transport Rail, Engr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, alongside other senior officials and executives of CCECC.
Speaking on behalf of the construction company, CCECC Vice President, Mr. Sun Xiangchun, commended LAMATA for spearheading the initiative, describing vocational education as a key driver of industrial development.
He explained that the project aligns with the China-Africa Vocational Education Plan, jointly endorsed by the Presidents of China and Nigeria, to strengthen technical education and support Africa’s industrialisation.
Xiangchun noted that, having delivered the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines, CCECC recognises that the expansion of Lagos’ rail network will require a new generation of highly skilled professionals in railway operations, maintenance and management.
According to him, the proposed Railway Training Centre will combine classroom instruction, simulation-based learning, practical hands-on training and professional skills assessment to produce globally competitive railway personnel.
“The establishment of a professional and integrated railway training centre is not only timely but essential for the sustainable development of Lagos’ rail transit system,” he said.
The Railway Training Centre is expected to serve as a cornerstone of LAMATA’s long-term strategy to build indigenous technical capacity, reduce reliance on foreign expertise and provide the skilled workforce needed to support what is projected to become one of Africa’s largest and most advanced urban rail networks.
#LAMATA #CCECC #LagosRail #RailwayTraining #Transportation #MassTransit #LagosState #Infrastructure #UrbanMobility #RailDevelopment #NigeriaNews
