Chinese ambassador: Nigeria's modern railway project significant to development

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Xu Jianguo has described the recent agreements signed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the Nigerian side on a 186.5 km modernized railway project as of milestone significance.

Xu stated this in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, while expressing congratulations on the progress of Sino-Nigerian cooperation in infrastructural development.

"I witnessed the agreement signing ceremony by Nigerian Minister of Transport Ibrahim Bio and Zhou Tianxiang, the deputy general manager of the CCECC on Oct. 26 in Abuja," the ambassador said.

He said the railway project will play a role in the improvement of Nigeria's infrastructural construction and economic development.

He cited the signing of the agreements as an important fruit in the China-Nigeria cooperation, noting that it is practical and reasonable.

"I am glad to see that the Nigerian federal government approved the project to be built, for it is an important measure to facilitate economic growth and people's benefits in Nigeria," he said.

"I believe with the joint efforts, the railway project will be implemented in high quality and upon the requirement," Xu added.

He said as China's technology of railway construction is applied in Nigeria, it is helpful to Chinese companies in opening up African and world market.

"The project will produce positive effects on Chinese companies' future cooperation in African and world countries," he said.

The Abuja-Kaduna railway, the first segment of Nigeria's modernized railway system, is designated to have nine stations and 18 bridges. The contracted value of the project was 849 million U.S. dollars and the construction period is three years.

The second segment of the system, Lagos-Ibadan railway project, is expected to be awarded in by the end of the year.

Source:Xinhua