THE Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has signed a contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on the Development and Implementation of the LAMATA Railway Training Centre.

The contract is intended to ‎bridge the gap created by the absence of a unified standard in railway systems in Lagos State.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, said the aim of the three-year training programmes is to produce at least 500 experts yearly in signaling, electrification, maintenance and operations, noting that it will create an internationally recognised and certified training system.

Akinajo explained that the initiative supports industrialisation, infrastructure sustainability and national economic growth in Nigeria, stating that Lagos aspires to become a resource centre for railway expertise across the country.
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She recalled that Nigeria once had a vibrant railway system, but that LAMATA has taken full advantage of its recent removal from the exclusive to the concurrent list by implementing two rail lines that are currently operational.

“We have five more rail lines that have been added to our strategic transfer master plan, which means that in totality, Lagos is looking at implementing no fewer than 11 rail lines and one monorail,” she stated.

“The implementation and ability to build them is fantastic, but we need them to be sustainable, thus the establishment of a training school for railway systems.”

LAMATA’s Head of Rail Operations, Joseph Akinpelu, said the centre would bring excellence in operations and safety, reduce dependency on foreign partners, create direct and indirect employment, and develop local human capital of global standards.

According to him, the project seeks to establish a structured programme for localised railway talent development, with over 400 Nigerians already employed since the project started.

He further explained that the programme will introduce standardised training and certification systems, with this pilot scheme establishing a three-year maintenance and operation skills training, using simulators, smart classrooms, and on-site technical team training.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of CCECC, Sun Xiangchun, commended the comprehensive platform, saying that strengthened capacity is crucial for sustainable rail transit operation.

He noted that LAMATA has a significant vision for the rail transit system and maintenance, adding that this would make Lagos a leading hub for railway talent development.