Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that the proposed inter-city light rail project in the state would be completed before the end of his administration in 2019.
Ajimobi said this on Friday in Ibadan while receiving a Chinese delegation led by the Deputy Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Ling Jing, in his office.
“We are planning to construct light rail in the state and I hope the project would be completed in 24 months.
“I believe with our relationship today, we are happy to work with the Chinese groups: We look forward to partnering the Chinese on agriculture, solar energy and infrastructure,” he said.
The governor said that his administration at inception decided to partner the Chinese because of the country’s phenomenal growth.
Ajimobi said that the state government partnered with some groups from China on its newly-established Free Trade Zone along Ibadan-Lagos expressway.
According to him, the partnership with a Chinese group, Polaris, led to the establishment of Pacesetter Polaris Group, which has attracted the interest of 153 construction companies.
Earlier, Jing said that a Chinese company was planning to establish a mobile phone manufacturing company in the state.
He said the visit was to further strengthen and promote the relationship between the Chinese government and the Oyo State government.
“The governor has made many trips to china in the last three years to forge a partnership in the building of infrastructure,’’ he said.
The Chinese envoy said that the relationship and partnership was to transform the state and strengthen bilateral trade.