Some of the train coaches ordered by the Federal Government have arrived from China, brightening the chances of an improved rail transportation system in Nigeria.
BusinessDay sighted some of the coaches Thursday morning as they were being towed from the Apapa Wharf.
Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, announced last April that the Nigerian Railway Corporation would take delivery of 10 new coaches for the Abuja – Kaduna rail line last June.
Amaechi said the 10 coaches were part of a total of 64 coaches that Nigeria expected from China.
“I requested for 10 coaches now because we need to improve on the Kaduna-Abuja line. If the 10 doesn’t come there is nothing I can do but it has to come because they have to manufacture for us to use in Kaduna-Abuja and again, Lagos- Ibadan will soon be ready, we also have to ensure that we get coaches that we can be using, pending when they finish construction of the 64 coaches,” the minister said during a trip to China last April to inspect the speed of work at the Chinese Railway Rolling stock Corporation(CRRC) Tangshan Company Ltd.
