China’s CCECC Claims It Created 10,000 Nigerian Jobs from $823 Million Abuja Rail Project

 

China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) has announced that it created nearly 10,000 jobs during the construction phase of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project (Phase 1), valued at $823 million. This claim was disclosed in a statement on the company's official website on Thursday.The Abuja Light Rail project, re-launched in May 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and other government officials, aims to provide a reliable and efficient transportation system for the residents of Nigeria's capital. The CCECC, which is the international engineering arm of the Chinese government, expressed its excitement to play a role in alleviating the transportation challenges in the area.The project encompasses the completed 45-km Lot A1 and Lot 3 sections of the light rail, featuring 12 stations and connecting key areas such as the Abuja airport and the Aka Line of the National Railway. With a maximum speed of 100 km/h, the metro rail promises an exciting, comfortable, and efficient ride, significantly reducing local traffic congestion. Besides creating nearly 10,000 jobs, CCECC also trained over 3,000 professionals from the local community during the construction phase.The Abuja Light Rail project is a significant component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an extensive infrastructure development strategy aimed at enhancing global trade and economic growth. According to the Belt and Road official portal, China's foreign trade in goods from January to May 2024 stood at 17.5 trillion yuan (approximately 2.46 trillion U.S. dollars), with exports reaching 9.95 trillion yuan and imports hitting 7.55 trillion yuan. In May alone, foreign trade grew by 8.6 percent to 3.71 trillion yuan.The Abuja Light Rail line, the first urban rail transit line in Nigeria's capital, is a crucial livelihood project under the BRI in Africa. Approximately 60 percent of the construction funds and 85 percent of the diesel multiple unit (DMU) procurement funds were financed by the Export-Import Bank of China. The energy-saving trains are customized for the local environment, considering high temperatures, strong winds, and sand, and designed to meet practical, economical, and comfort needs. The Chinese government emphasized that this project will have a profound impact on urban rail transit development in West Africa.In a related development, President Bola Tinubu recently extended free rides on the newly launched Abuja Light Rail until the end of the year. This announcement was made during the re-launch of commercial operations, which saw attendance from key political figures, including Minister Nyesom Wike. The Minister noted that although the metro line was inaugurated in 2018, it remained non-functional due to the lack of essential access roads.Wike revealed that the project was completed within nine months, with the Central Bank of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation, facilitating the payment of $30 million to the contractors, CCECC. He also disclosed that constructing the access roads cost N21.4 billion.The FCT Mandate Secretary for Transportation, Chinedu Elechi, stated that the Abuja Metro Line comprises 12 trains, each capable of carrying at least 700 passengers, making 14 trips per day. Lot 1 and 2 of the metro line will run two trips simultaneously daily, with a cumulative capacity of transporting 980,000 passengers monthly within the Federal Capital Territory.The $823 million project underscores the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China, reflecting a shared commitment to infrastructure development and economic growth.