The process to hand over the operation of the newly commissioned Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway to Nigerians has commenced with the Chinese construction giant training workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on some technical aspects of the operation.
The contractor, the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC), organised the one-month training for the NRC workers which came to an end yesterday.
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No fewer than 167 NRC workers and those of the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) participated in the training.
They were trained on various aspects of the Railway operations such the Sub-grade and Structures, Permanent Way and introduction to various equipment, Stations and Communication, Signaling and Power supply system.
The Deputy Managing Director of CCECC, Engr. Xia Lijun stated that the training was part of the processes to be observed preparatory to the final handover of the entire Lagos-Ibadan railway system.
Lijun emphasised that the experience garnered so far would make the operation of the dedicated railway highly functional and meet up with the purpose for which the project was designed.
He enjoined all the trainees to be highly focused with full confidence in administering the knowledge already gained from the comprehensive training programme in both theory and practical processes.
Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria said the knowledge garnered would help in improving the infrastructure the government is handing over to the NRC.
The Director Rail transport services FMOT Engr. J. A. Yusuf congratulated the trainees for being part of the operational training of Lagos Ibadan railway modernization project.
He stated that the program was aimed at increasing local content and improving the technical knowledge of Nigerians in handling and operating its infrastructure assets.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Mrs. Kemi P. Ogbonna District Superintendent Western District, said the training had exposed them to the rudiments of running and maintaining a new railway such as the new Lagos Ibadan standard gauge.
