The Lagos-Ibadan railway has supported the employment of 20,000 people since the commencement of operation, a document from the Chinese Embassy in Abuja reveals.
The document that was obtained by our correspondent on Thursday noted that the railway, which was undertaken by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited, stands as the first modern double-track standard-gauge railway in West Africa.
“It serves as a crucial component of the ECOWAS’s Interconnectivity railway network and represents the second phase of Nigeria’s railway modernization project,” the document read in part.
In June 2021, the Lagos-Ibadan Railway, connecting Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos, with the industrial centre of the South-West, Ibadan, officially commenced commercial operations.
According to the document, to date, it had safely transported over 1.33 million passengers.
“Recently, the railway introduced dedicated freight services, establishing a vital link between the port and rail, thus expediting the flow of import and export goods, alleviating port congestion, and contributing significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s largest port, the Lagos Apapa Port.
“Throughout the project’s construction and operational phases, a strong commitment to local engagement has resulted in the direct creation of a minimum of 5,000 employment opportunities within the local community each year and indirectly supporting the employment of at least 20,000 individuals”, the document added.
The document further noted that the CCECC had organised hundreds of training sessions to contribute to the cultivation of talent for Nigeria’s railway modernisation.
