The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has partnered with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to establish a Railway Training Centre as part of efforts to build the skilled workforce needed to support the expansion of Lagos’ rail network from six to 11 rail lines.
The
agreement, signed in Lagos, comes as the Lagos State Government updates its
Strategic Transport Master Plan, increasing the rail component from the
original six rail lines and one monorail to 11 rail lines and one monorail in
response to the state’s growing transportation demands.
Speaking
at the signing ceremony on Saturday, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs
Abimbola Akinajo, said the proposed training centre would ensure that the
state’s expanding rail infrastructure is operated and maintained by highly
skilled Nigerian professionals, reducing dependence on foreign expertise.
She
noted that the authority had already made considerable progress in developing
local manpower through the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines, where
hundreds of Nigerians have been trained to manage critical aspects of rail
operations.
She
said, “Since we started the Blue and Red Line operations, we have trained over
400 personnel, including train drivers, customer service representatives, and
operations staff. On the Blue Line alone, we have achieved over 90 per cent
local staffing, with technical partners filling only the remaining gaps.”
Akinajo
explained that the expansion of the state’s rail network made it imperative to
establish a structured and internationally certified railway training
institution capable of producing professionals across key areas of the
industry.
According
to her, “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. 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.”
She
described the partnership with CCECC as a strategic investment in human
capital, saying it would equip young Nigerians with globally recognised railway
skills while supporting the state’s vision of an integrated and sustainable
mass transit system.
Responding
on behalf of CCECC, the company’s Vice President, Sun Xiangchun, commended
LAMATA for championing the initiative, describing vocational education as the
bedrock of industrial development and a key driver of sustainable
infrastructure growth.
He
said the project aligns with the China-Africa Vocational Education Plan jointly
endorsed by the Presidents of Nigeria and China, adding that the collaboration
would deepen technical education and accelerate Africa’s industrialisation
agenda.
According
to Xiangchun, having delivered the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines,
CCECC understands that the next phase of Lagos’ rail development will require a
new generation of highly trained professionals in railway operations,
maintenance and management.
He
said, “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.”
Xiangchun
added that the facility would combine classroom learning, simulation-based
training, practical field experience, and professional skills assessment to
produce world-class railway personnel capable of managing Africa’s
fastest-growing urban rail systems.
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