The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has signed an agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to establish a modern Railway Training Centre that will develop the skilled workforce needed to support the continued expansion of Lagos State’s rail system.
The initiative comes as the Lagos State Government updates its Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), increasing the planned rail network from six rail lines and one monorail to 11 rail lines and one monorail to meet the transportation demands of the state’s growing population.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, LAMATA Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, described the training centre as a critical investment in building local capacity to operate and maintain the state’s expanding rail infrastructure.
According to Akinajo, more than 400 personnel—including train drivers, customer service officers and operations staff—have already been trained since the commencement of operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue and Red Lines.
She added that the Blue Line has achieved more than 90 per cent local staffing, with only a small number of technical positions still occupied by foreign partners.
Akinajo explained that the expansion of the Strategic Transport Master Plan makes it necessary to establish an internationally certified railway training institution capable of producing professionals in key areas such as signalling, maintenance, operations and customer service.
“Our objective is to ensure that the infrastructure we build is operated and maintained by Nigerians. This will promote the long-term sustainability of our rail system, create employment opportunities for young people and contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy,” she said.
She described the partnership with CCECC as a significant investment in human capital that will equip Lagos with the technical expertise required to support one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban rail networks.
The signing ceremony was attended by LAMATA’s Technical Adviser for Public Transport Rail, Engr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, other senior officials of the agency, and executives of CCECC.
Speaking on behalf of the Chinese construction company, CCECC Vice President, Mr. Sun Xiangchun, commended LAMATA for driving the initiative, noting that vocational education remains fundamental to industrial development.
He said the project aligns with the China-Africa Vocational Education Plan jointly endorsed by the Presidents of Nigeria and China to strengthen technical education and support Africa’s industrialisation.
Xiangchun noted that CCECC, which constructed the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines, understands that the planned expansion of the state’s rail network will require a new generation of highly trained professionals in railway operations, maintenance and management.
He said the proposed training centre will combine classroom instruction, simulation-based learning, practical hands-on training and professional skills assessment to produce globally competitive railway personnel.
“The establishment of a professional and integrated railway training centre is both timely and essential for the sustainable development of Lagos’ rail transit system,” Xiangchun said.
Once completed, the Railway Training Centre is expected to serve as a cornerstone of LAMATA’s long-term strategy to strengthen indigenous technical capacity, reduce dependence on foreign expertise and provide the skilled workforce needed to operate and maintain what is set to become one of Africa’s largest urban rail systems.
