Ogun Signs $3b Rail Contract With Chinese Company

Ogun state government, on Monday, signed a contract agreement with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for the construction of intra and inter-city railway network project across the state. Governor Ibikunle Amosun signed on behalf of the state government. At the agreement signing ceremony between the state government and China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, Amosun said the fastest way to transform the State is through infrastructural development. The contract signing ceremony, which had in attendance, the Chinese Consul-General, Loin Kan, CCECC chairman, Cao Baogang and the company’s Managing Director, Li Qinyona, the Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who described the rail project as total redesigning of Ogun state, reiterated that his administration would continue to initiate projects capable of enhancing infrastructural development of the state. His words: “If you go to China today, the only reason why they are now rated one of the economic powers of the world, is because ‎they have infrastructures in place, and without infrastructure, nothing can happen. If you go to Dubai today, you will see infrastructure there, go to Europe, in France, everywhere you will see infrastructures, and without infrastructure there can’t be any development. “When there is infrastructure you will have a positive impact on curbing security challenges. “Infrastructures that we are doing, aside from the fact that it will give us development, when we put these infrastructures in place, our people will be the beneficiary, they will be working alongside those people that will be helping us, and one thing that this will do for us, is transfer of technology. The governor explained further that the rail system will connect locations within the Abeokuta metropolis and will be extended to other locations in the state like Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Agbara and Idi-Iroko. This, according to him, will greatly reduce pressure on roads in the state when both the intra and intercity rail projects are completed. While urging CCECC to work round the clock and ensure the project reaches an appreciable stage next year when Ogun State clocks 40 years, Amosun pointed out that the rail network will engender the desired development of the state. “Today, no doubt, is an important day in the history of our dear state. This agreement signing with the Chinese company, when completed, will complement our road infrastructure all over the state. Apart from the infrastructural development it will bring to our state, it will also create jobs and ease the transport of persons and goods across the state. Meanwhile, the governor has assured the people of the state that all the on-going road projects across the state will soon be completed adding that his administration will now shift its focus to the construction of rural roads to facilitate development in the axis.