Chinese operators being training FCT officials on how to manage Abuja Lightrail project

FEDERAL Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) officials have stepped up a series of intensive technical training for their staff in a quest to get them equipped to take over the operating of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (Armt).

Built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Armt is currently being managed by Chinese managers but their contract is due to end in two-and-a-half years time. Armt, also known as Abuja Lightrail is designed to be an effective urban metro that will reduce the number of cars in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FCTA assistant director Mustapha Mallumbi, said the essence of the training is for members of staff to boost their knowledge base of the system. He added that the training organised by CCECC will improve the safety of the rail system and patronage.

Operations on the rail network commenced on July 13 last year and for now, the system is run by a joint operations management team of CCECC and FCTA officials. Mr Mallumbi added that under the plan, in the next two-and-a-half years, Armt designed to cover the entire FCT and environs, will be fully in the hands of local staff.

Tom Tang, the deputy general manager of CCECC's rail operations department, said the training is a core part of the arrangement for the technical transfer of Armt operations and management to the local staff, to enable them master all the necessary skills and knowledge to completely manage it. He added that after the training which will last for three months, more trainings will follow

Chika Ifesi, the assistant director of the Electrical Transportation Secretariat, who is part of the FCTA rail operations team, described the training as apt and a welcome development, because it enables FCTA, the Nigeria Railway Corporation and CCECC to work together as a team.

She added: “We have to be trained together, so that we have the same approach to the system, processes, challenges and solutions. We felt that there is a need for all team members to sit together and learn intensively for months, so that in the coming years, our people will able to take over the management of the entire system, when the Chinese exit."