By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has revealed that Nigeria will join the league of countries manufacturing their own train coaches and locomotive engines in five years at Kajola, Kaduna state.
He also denied the recent story in the public space that a Kaduna-Abuja passenger train was attacked by hoodlums along the way.
The Minister who spoke this Friday on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme ‘Kakaaki’, said Nigeria will start assembling train coaches and locomotive engines in five years.
“If I leave the (AIT) studio today I am going to look for that contract paper with the Chinese company which said that they will at a point start assembling coaches and locomotive engines in Kajola, Kaduna. I will do this so that if I leave office they will not say it’s false.
“The Chinese will replicate what the South African government did which is to award them a juicy contract and asked them to manufacture 30% in China and the rest in South Africa. This is exactly what we want here’, Amaechi said.
But the former Rivers state Governor made it clear that this can only happen in five years after the assembly plant in Kajola, Kaduna state has become operational.
Amaechi however, disclosed that the Chinese company is finding it difficult to agree to assemble and manufacture locomotive engines and coaches in Nigeria because of the time required of them to execute the contract.
“Manufacturing of train coaches and locomotive engines at Kajola, Kaduna is a bit difficult for now because of the little time Chinese company has to deliver the coaches and locomotive engines in the contract.
But in five years time our plant in Kajola, Kaduna state will start producing train coaches and locomotive engines”, Amaechi assured.
