Former Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has highlighted the significant potential of the wagon assembly plant located in Kajola, Ogun State, to create jobs, facilitate knowledge transfer, and enhance rail transport in Nigeria. He made these remarks during the inaugural transport summit organized by the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday.
Amaechi explained that the plant was established to enable Nigeria to produce its own wagons and rolling stocks, which are crucial for railway development. He emphasized the unique advantages that Nigeria gained from its rail projects, stating, “There are so many things we had in the rail project that most other countries did not get.”
He referenced the commissioning of the Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Train Station in Kajola in 2023, which features a wagon rolling stock. According to Amaechi, the Kajola Locomotive and Wagon Rolling Stock facility was not initially part of the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project. However, he insisted on its construction as a means of gaining expertise in wagon and rolling stock manufacturing.
“I told the Chinese that I was going to give them a contract to supply Nigeria with 200 rolling stocks. I, however, told them that I would not approve the contract if they did not build a wagon assembly plant in Nigeria. The agreement was signed,” he noted.
Amaechi expressed that this initiative aims not only to create employment opportunities but also to alleviate pressure on foreign exchange reserves. He also mentioned his advocacy for the establishment of a Transportation University by a Chinese contractor, which was successfully completed.