Niger trains 100 youth in rail laying
A government program aims to build a skilled national workforce for upcoming rail projects.
Niger's Minister of Equipment and Infrastructure, Colonel-Major Salissou Mahaman Salissou, launched a training program for 100 young Nigeriens in rail-laying techniques on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Niamey. This training is the first phase of a larger initiative to equip 466 youths in three railway sectors: track laying and infrastructure, operations and traffic, and maintenance.
The Governor of Niamey region, General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, highlighted the railway's strategic role in economic development, noting its contribution to reducing transport costs and facilitating trade. The Director General of the Public Works Training Center (CPTP), Soli Housseini, stated the training will create a qualified national workforce for building and maintaining rail infrastructure.
Minister Salissou Mahaman Salissou announced that the 50-kilometer Dan Issa-Maradi section of the railway will begin construction soon. He urged the trainees to dedicate themselves to their studies to become skilled technicians for Niger's rail development, aligning with the Republic's Refoundation Program.
Why it matters100 young Nigeriens are being trained in rail-laying techniques as part of a government initiative to build a skilled workforce for national infrastructure projects.