The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has signed a landmark agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to establish a state-of-the-art Railway Training Centre aimed at developing the skilled workforce required to support the expansion of Lagos State’s rail network.
The partnership comes as the Lagos State Government updates its Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), expanding the rail component from the original six rail lines and one monorail to 11 rail lines and one monorail, reflecting the state’s growing transportation needs and long-term vision for an integrated mass transit system.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, said the training centre would play a critical role in ensuring that the expanding rail infrastructure is operated and maintained by highly skilled Nigerian professionals.
Akinajo disclosed that significant progress has already been made in local capacity development through the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue and Red Lines, with more than 400 personnel trained, including train drivers, customer service representatives, and operations staff.
She noted that the Blue Line has achieved over 90 per cent local staffing, with technical partners filling only the remaining gaps. According to her, the expansion of the Strategic Transport Master Plan highlights the need for a structured and internationally certified railway training institution.
“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,” Akinajo said.
She described the partnership with CCECC as a major investment in human capital that will provide Lagos with the technical expertise needed to sustain its ambitious rail expansion programme.
The signing ceremony was attended by LAMATA’s Technical Adviser, Public Transport Rail, Engr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, other senior officials of the authority, and executives of CCECC.
Responding on behalf of the construction company, CCECC Vice President, Mr. Sun Xiangchun, commended LAMATA for championing the initiative, describing vocational education as the foundation of industrial development.
He said the project aligns with the China-Africa Vocational Education Plan, jointly endorsed by the Presidents of China and Nigeria to strengthen technical education and support Africa’s industrialisation.
According to Xiangchun, CCECC, which delivered the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines, recognises that the continued expansion of Lagos’ rail network will require a new generation of highly trained professionals in railway operations, maintenance, and management.
He explained that the proposed Railway Training Centre will combine classroom instruction, simulation-based learning, practical hands-on training, and professional skills assessment to produce world-class railway personnel.
Xiangchun added that the establishment of the training centre is both timely and essential for the sustainable development of Lagos’ rail transit system. He noted that the facility will strengthen indigenous technical capacity, reduce dependence on foreign expertise, and provide the skilled workforce needed to support what is expected to become one of Africa’s most extensive urban rail networks.
