Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, Jacques Liao, has decried the incessant insecurity situation in northern Nigeria, stressing that it obstructs work on the Kano- Maiduguri Road especially the Yobe-Borno axis and threatens the company’s workers.
Liao, who made this disclosure while interacting with journalists at the Corporate Headquarters of the company in Abuja, said the Kano-Maiduguri Road is the most challenging project the company ever embarked on, adding that in April this year, five heavy equipment of the company were destroyed by insurgents.
Liao maintained that insecurity along that axis had led to delay in completing the road project, even as he called on the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to arrest the situation before it degenerates further.
The Executive Director also said that the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail project, which is 79 percent complete, would be completed in April next year despite the difficulties in laying track, and assured that the company would try as much as possible to deliver as promised.
He revealed that the CCECC employed over 5,000 local staff presently working on the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, explaining that as soon as they finished laying the tracks, the rest would not be difficult.
Explaining further, Liao revealed that over 11,000 people are presently working with CCECC across the country.
“Despite difficulties and challenges we faced some times in the course of executing some of these projects, we always delivered as scheduled, quality jobs and this we are proud of.”
Liao, while answering questions on new rail coaches that are yet to arrive Nigeria, disclosed that plans were underway to assemble the coaches here in Nigeria, instead of bringing in finished ones.
He noted that this would go a long way to create more jobs for Nigerians and also enhance their skill and technical capacities.
On social responsibility, he said the company was strongly committed to doing what they are supposed to do, as well as the development of the host communities as he gave examples of areas the company had assisted.
“The company always focuses on local staff capacity building and job creation. We employ workers of different categories and provide them with dedicated training.
“Currently, CCECC Nigeria Limited employs a total number of over 10,000 local staff and has also sent considerable numbers of staff for training in China to come back and perform excellently for the company and as well be relevant in the society” he said.
In the future, Liao assured that CCECC Nigeria Limited, would continue to carry out more extensive and deeper cooperation with government at all levels as well as stakeholders across Nigeria.
