The Chinese are in Lagos and many other parts of Nigeria, involved in business, as well as in construction.

One striking aspect of their intervention in Lagos is the railways, which is currently witnessing a rebirth in the state.

Chinese contact with Africa is hardly a modern phenomenon, for this contact lies far back in historical time. Indeed Egyptians had reached China by the year 400AD.Yang Lihua writing in the work Fifty Years of Sino-Soviet Cooperation indicates 'Chinese, in the ancient times, formed links with Africa at about 130BC.

At the beginning of the year 400AD Egyptians reached China by land and sea. From the 7th to the 15th century, industries and commerce were booming and China was open to foreign trade and overseas exchanges' (p.57). However, this ancient trading relationship would seem to have undergone a revival of sorts in modern times.

A look at the Nigerian-Sino trading situation easily confirms this. In 2010 total Chinese trade in Nigeria, comprising imports, exports and investments amounted to$ 8bn. In 2011, this had risen to a refreshing $10bn, and there are clear signs that this figure will rise with the passing of the years, further cementing Sino-Nigerian relations. The railways sector, to speak of just one area of focus, is a promising aspect of the Chinese intervention in the country, and this is very obvious in Lagos state, as well as other parts of the country.

At its peak the Light Rail project in Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, will employ some 8,000 persons, so says Governor Babatunde Fashola, who anticipates an upsurge in economic activities when the project is ready. There is palpable joy among Lagosians of all ages and classes on account of the Light Rail project, and the anticipated benefits of same.

From an economy animated by buses, taxis, trailers, and characterized by not a few pot-holed roads, as well as massive traffic congestion, a big change is now coming upon the Lagos environs, with the special focus on railways which the state has embraced.

It is hoped that this year the first 8 kilometers of the blue line light rail project would be completed. The blue line will cover some 27 Kilometres running from Okokomaiko to CMS in central Lagos. This lofty work is being done by a construction firm, Chinese Civil Engineering Company limited (CCECC), a company which has been in the country for 30 years. Altogether, there will be seven rail networks in the state. These are the red, blue, green, yellow, purple, brown and orange lines.

The light rail project is part of the states intermodal transport scheme which is aimed at using rail, water and land to create an efficient transport system for the people. The horizon of the state is bound to change when the trains come, and these will have a revolutionary impact on the entire transport system, and even the quality of life itself. The light Rail project also has significance for art and even tourism.

Recently, the GM National Theatre, Lagos told this reporter in an interview that the completed Light Rail would have a station just by the National Theatre and its destination would be Ebutte-Metta .This means more theatre loving persons would have a quick means of travelling down to and from the theatre.

On the whole the rail project would reduce the pressure of vehicular traffic on the roads,as well as spark off a range of economic activities, beyond the envisaged 27 kilometres of roads. The blue line would have 13 stations.

There is another side to the light rail project currently under construction. This is the story of the ordinary workers who do most of the hard labour that is going to produce a remarkable rail project, which will turn around the story of transport in Lagos State. One of the workers at the Apapa section of the project, who prefers not to disclose his identity, speaks on the mode of transport the workers experience, and says 'The staff bus is constructed like a Black Maria which is used to convey prisoners to jail .

I do understand that the workers are just labourers, but they are human and contribute to the growth of the nation. The only crime these workers have committed is that they are not formally learned, but they are skilled'. He adds that the Black Maria is constructed like a box, and says that it has little ventilation and is always hot.

He then speaks about the wages earned. According to him 'How can a full grown man with a family, receive less than 20,000 Naira in a month?' He adds that the salary is not fixed. 'It's calculated by an hourly rate depending on your status or position in the company.

Some casual workers receive 50 Naira hour. The mathematics is that for a day he receives 500 Naira, which is 50 Naira multiplied by ten hours. 'He ponders how a man can survive on this for a month. 'How can he pay for rent, feed and clothe his family? I have two old men at my site who earn less than 30,000 Naira a month. How they survive each month is still a miracle to me'. He also refers to another shocking disparity in terms of wages.

His words 'The Chinese man because he is an expatriate is paid in Dollars, but we do the work.They only show us what to do. So why on earth are we subjected to such psychological pain.' Another staff of the company tells Daily Trust that 'there is no welfare package for workers, and if someone falls ill, the company does not assist in any way. They only assist in a situation where a staff sustains an injury while working on site.

He also explains a number of problematic aspects of the work. 'His words 'The highest position a Nigerian can attain in the organisation is that of Personnel Manager in which all the site personnel Managers report back to the Chinese General Personnel Manager in the head office.'

He explains that none of the Site Personnel Managers is paid based on the qualifications he possesses. His words 'None of these site personnel Managers are paid based on their qualifications, whether these be Bsc or Msc degrees.

The fact is that Bsc holders are not different from unskilled Chinese workers on site. The site personnel manager is the highest a Nigerian can attain on the site, he added' .There is no provision of housing, medical, vehicle, and other benefits are not included in his conditions of service. He adds that Chinese are trooping into the country without appropriate immigration documents. His words 'The Chinese are trooping into the country without complete immigration documents, and jobs which ordinary Nigerians can handle, have been taken by the Chinese citizens in Nigeria. 'He speaks of a serious communication gap in the company, which has resulted in staff being sacked. His words 'It is a policy in every country of the world ,that one must learn the general language of communication, at least just for a little understanding of the language of your receiving country, before migration there. But the Chinese case is completely zero.'

In a recent interview with a Nigerian newspaper, Deng Boqing , the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria says of conditions persisting in Chinese construction companies in Nigeria 'We have always required the Chinese companies to treat their local employees as friends and brothers, and kept reminding them that only in that way could they continuously develop themselves in Nigeria.

The overwhelming majority of companies in Nigeria have so far done that quite well. They always attach great importance to the employment and management of local staff'. 'He adds quite significantly 'They have strictly observed relevant laws and legislations in giving equal and unbiased treatment to both Chinese and Nigerian employees, and actively safeguarding the rights and interests of local staff'.

A source close to the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria tells this reporter 'The monthly salary of Nigerian employees working in Chinese companies ranges from 20,000 Naira to 200,000 Naira, or even higher.

Among that, ordinary technical workers usually receive a salary of over 30,000 Naira, while senior technicians and management staff enjoy the highest salary of over 200,000 naira. Besides salary, Chinese companies in Nigeria also attach great importance to the provision of comfortable environment and good facilities for the local employees. For those who work for the project-contracting companies with tough working conditions, safety equipment like safety hats, labour protection shoes, etc. is fully guaranteed. Some of those companies even provide regular bus service, dining hall, Medicare center and other facilities. Equipment like laptop computers is provided to senior local employees.

Some Chinese companies organize regular training for Nigerian employees, which contributes many specialists to relevant local industries. Some local employees have even been selected and sent to China for visiting and further training.'

He adds hopefully "I believe that, with the development of Chinese and Nigerian economy and growth of Chinese companies in Nigeria, the welfare of local employees in those companies will definitely be further improved." The Chinese have come again, changing much of our cities and the horizon, but also coming along with work practices which sometimes overwhelm the labourers who work under them.