- Lagos has expanded its rail master plan to 11 lines and one monorail
- LAMATA and CCECC will establish a railway training centre
- The project aims to build skilled Nigerian railway professionals
The Lagos State Government has broadened its long-term rail development strategy, increasing the number of planned rail corridors from six to 11, alongside the addition of a monorail line, as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s public transportation system.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the development was announced by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), which also confirmed the signing of an agreement with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to establish a modern railway training centre in Lagos.
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The proposed facility will equip Nigerians with practical and technical skills in railway operations, signalling, maintenance, customer service, engineering and other specialised areas required for rail transportation.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, described the project as a long-term investment aimed at preparing a skilled local workforce capable of managing the state’s growing rail infrastructure.
She explained that Lagos had already made significant progress in developing indigenous expertise through the Blue and Red Rail Lines, with more than 400 personnel trained in different operational and technical roles.
According to Akinajo, the Blue Line currently operates with more than 90 per cent Nigerian staff, while only a few specialised positions are still occupied by foreign technical partners.
She noted that the expansion of the state’s transport blueprint has increased the need for a certified training institution that can consistently produce qualified railway professionals.
Akinajo said the government intends for Nigerians to eventually assume full responsibility for operating and maintaining the rail network, adding that the initiative would create employment opportunities while supporting economic growth.
She also described the partnership with CCECC as an investment in human capital that would reduce dependence on expatriate professionals and strengthen local technical capacity.
CCECC Vice President Sun Xiangchun said the training centre would play a vital role in ensuring the sustainability of Lagos’ expanding rail network.
He explained that the facility would combine classroom learning, simulation exercises, practical training and professional assessments to prepare railway workers to international standards.
According to him, the project aligns with the China-Africa Vocational Education Plan, which promotes technical education and skills development across the continent.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials of LAMATA and executives of CCECC, who expressed confidence that the training centre would support the long-term success of Lagos’ ambition to build one of Africa’s largest urban rail systems.
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