Written by T.Adeniyi
On May 2014, the Chinese government announced that a deal had been struck with the Nigerian government for a 13.1 Billion Dollar contract (The largest single foreign investment by the Chinese). This agreement would see 150,000 indirect jobs and 50,000 direct jobs created. The aforementioned deal would also see an exchange of Chinese foreign content, affording Nigeria, skills transfer.
The states connected are Lagos - Ondo- Ogun - Edo - Delta - Bayelsa - Rivers - Abia - Akwa Ibom - Cross River. The route covers 1385 kilometres, with a design speed of 120 km/hr (The fastest rail design specification, thus far in Nigeria).
As with most Chinese engagements in Nigeria, CCECC ( China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation) will undertake the construction. CCECC have been in Africa since 1981 and currently employ over 20,000 Nigerians.
The Nigerian Coastal Rail is touted as the missing link in Nigeria's rail master-plan, which already includes the Lagos - Kano Line (Soon to be upgraded to Standard Gauge), the Warri-Itakpe Line (Standard Gauge) and the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri Line (Narrow Gauge Rehabilitation mostly completed). It is also deemed as a possible precursor to the Lagos - Abidjan Railway, which is another game changer in this neck of the woods.
On May 2014, the Chinese government announced that a deal had been struck with the Nigerian government for a 13.1 Billion Dollar contract (The largest single foreign investment by the Chinese). This agreement would see 150,000 indirect jobs and 50,000 direct jobs created. The aforementioned deal would also see an exchange of Chinese foreign content, affording Nigeria, skills transfer.
The states connected are Lagos - Ondo- Ogun - Edo - Delta - Bayelsa - Rivers - Abia - Akwa Ibom - Cross River. The route covers 1385 kilometres, with a design speed of 120 km/hr (The fastest rail design specification, thus far in Nigeria).
As with most Chinese engagements in Nigeria, CCECC ( China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation) will undertake the construction. CCECC have been in Africa since 1981 and currently employ over 20,000 Nigerians.
The Nigerian Coastal Rail is touted as the missing link in Nigeria's rail master-plan, which already includes the Lagos - Kano Line (Soon to be upgraded to Standard Gauge), the Warri-Itakpe Line (Standard Gauge) and the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri Line (Narrow Gauge Rehabilitation mostly completed). It is also deemed as a possible precursor to the Lagos - Abidjan Railway, which is another game changer in this neck of the woods.