The Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD) in Katsina State has commenced construction of Africa’s first Centre for Railway Signal and Communication.

The facility is expected to strengthen transportation research and innovation.

Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony on Wednesday in Daura, the university’s vice-chancellor, Umar Adam Katsayal, said the centre was secured under the institution’s 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Annual Intervention.

He described the facility as the second centre for railway signal and communication in the world after China and the first on the African continent.

According to him, the centre will serve as a hub for research in intelligent and smart transportation, covering railway, maritime, aviation, and road transport systems.

He added that the facility would also have the capacity to monitor railway traffic across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The vice-chancellor commended TETFund for its sustained interventions in the university and praised the contractor handling the project for mobilising to the site before receiving project funds.

He urged the contractor and project consultant to maintain quality standards and ensure timely completion of the project.

“While construction is ongoing, the Chinese government is already shipping the equipment that will be installed in the centre.

“All the equipment will be donated by China Railway Signal and Communication (CRSC) under a tripartite agreement signed in August 2025 between the company, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the university,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the consulting and contracting firms, the project consultant, Lawal Salisu, thanked the university management for the confidence reposed in them.

He assured the university of quality execution of the project and commended the vice-chancellor for attracting high-impact projects to the institution.

Also speaking, the director of academic planning and monitoring at the university, Ahmad Abubakar, described the centre as a world-class project that would redefine transportation education in Nigeria.

Mr Abubakar congratulated the university’s Governing Council, management, staff, and students on the achievement.

He expressed confidence that the facility would contribute significantly to the development of Nigeria’s transportation sector.