Tinubu pledges to complete the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project
On Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the completion of the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project, emphasizing its importance to both Nigeria and West Africa. The president made this pledge during his visit to the headquarters of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) in Beijing, as noted in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
Tinubu praised CRCC's role as a dependable partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure development and acknowledged the company's ongoing railway projects in the country.
“It is crucial to reassure Nigerians across local communities that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be completed to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa. We are also open to supporting your investment in solid minerals and other ventures in Nigeria. I am here to confirm that Nigeria is ready for business,” Tinubu told Mr. Dai Hegen, Chairman of CRCC.
Hegen shared that CRCC has operated in Nigeria for 43 years, completing over 300 projects and training more than 100,000 local workers. “The Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have collectively transported approximately 9 million passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo, while the Lagos Blue Line has served over 1.6 million passengers,” he added.
In addition, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies' Research Centre in Beijing, where the company introduced its DigiTruck initiative—a mobile ICT classroom designed to improve digital literacy in underserved communities across Nigeria.
During a meeting with Huawei’s leadership, led by Mr. Liang Hua, Chairman of the Board of Directors, the company announced that the DigiTruck will operate in 10 states annually, training at least 3,000 students each year.
Tinubu acknowledged Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s efforts to train 3 million technical talents (3MTT) under its initiative to equip the country’s youth with the skills required for future economic opportunities. Hua praised the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda for prioritizing digital technology as a key driver of economic growth and expressed Huawei’s readiness to offer its ICT expertise to support Nigeria’s policy objectives, including digital transformation and green energy.
Mr. Chris Lu, CEO of Huawei Nigeria, further endorsed the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for talent outsourcing in Africa. “We plan to expand the Network Operation Center (NOC) to meet the needs of more African markets, allowing Nigerian tech talent to serve overseas and contribute to NATEP’s goals,” Lu said.
The president and his delegation were also introduced to Huawei's latest innovations in e-government, smart education, smart grid, and solar power, all aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s public services and inclusive development. Additionally, Huawei announced plans to establish a joint photovoltaic (PV) test lab in collaboration with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA).