FG unveils expansion of national rail network across Nigeria

The Federal Government has unveiled the expansion of the national rail network.

This was a development of a Smart National Transport Data Bank, standardised bus terminals and plans for high-speed rail connectivity across the country.

The permanent secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engr Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Monday at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation.

He said the Federal Government was moving away from Nigeria’s excessive dependence on road transportation by strengthening rail, water and air transport infrastructure.

Speaking on the theme of the council, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” Adebiyi said transportation remained central to Nigeria’s economic development.

He noted that movement of people, goods and services was essential to trade, employment, productivity and national growth.

He listed several completed and operational rail corridors, including Port Harcourt–Aba, Warri–Itakpe, Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna, while disclosing that work was progressing on additional routes.

According to him, the Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor is nearing completion and is expected to become operational by December, while the Kaduna–Daura–Katsina axis is also advancing towards completion.

He added that the Katsina–Jibia–Maradi connection was expected to be ready by the following year, while work was also progressing on the Kano–Dutse corridor.

The permanent secretary said the government’s rail strategy was not only about passenger movement but also about reducing the enormous pressure placed on Nigeria’s roads by heavy-duty vehicles and freight.

He explained that shifting cargo from trucks to rail would reduce road congestion, accidents and pressure on road pavements, while extending the lifespan of critical road infrastructure.

He said the Federal Government was also looking at extending freight movement from Ibadan towards other parts of the country, with dry ports providing points where containers could be transferred closer to their destinations.

Another major achievement highlighted by the pemanent secretary was the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the Smart National Transport Data Bank under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Transfer arrangement.

Adebiyi said the project would address a major weakness in Nigeria’s transport system—the absence of a comprehensive and reliable database.

He said the initiative would also strengthen road safety and enforcement by making it possible to trace vehicles and operators through integrated digital records.

According to him, standardised manifests will be introduced at motor parks, capturing essential information about vehicles, drivers, passengers and their destinations.

“This simply means that anytime a vehicle has an accident anywhere, you can pick the manifest and know who is inside and for what purpose,” he said.

He also said vehicle plate numbers would increasingly be computerised, making it easier for authorities to identify motorists who violate traffic regulations.

The Federal Government has also approved the development of standardised bus terminals across Nigeria, beginning with six terminals, Adebiyi announced.

He said the terminals would operate under uniform minimum standards and include waiting areas, passenger information systems, police posts, vehicle inspection and mechanic facilities, restaurants, restrooms and other amenities.

He added that transport operators would be required to meet regulatory and safety standards before being allowed to operate.

He stressed, it would also be subject to sanctions where operators violate established regulations.

In another ambitious plan, Adebiyi announced that the government was working on plans for a high-speed rail system linking Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains potentially operating at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.

He said the project would radically reduce travel time between major Nigerian cities and provide Nigerians with a viable alternative to road transportation.

Adebiyi said the government’s ultimate objective was to give Nigerians the freedom to choose between road, rail, air and water transportation rather than forcing citizens to depend almost entirely on roads.

He also disclosed that government had approved light rail projects for selected cities, including Kano and Lagos, as part of measures to ease urban congestion and reduce pressure on road infrastructure.

He said similar projects would be extended to other state capitals as part of the broader strategy to develop an integrated national transportation network.

On maritime transportation, Adebiyi said major interventions were also underway at Nigeria’s ports, including reconstruction and automation.

He said the ongoing work would improve cargo handling and make port operations faster, safer, more efficient and economical.

According to him, the reforms were expected to significantly reduce port congestion and improve the movement of goods across the country.

In his address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, said Nigeria needed to complement infrastructure development with strong institutions, effective regulation, reliable data, innovation and a skilled workforce.

Enitan described transportation as the “lifeblood of the modern economy,” saying an efficient transport system would improve access to markets, support trade and investment, reduce logistics costs and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

He called for greater coordination between federal and state governments and stronger collaboration among transport agencies.

The Head of Service also urged participants at the council to focus on practical outcomes.

He stressed that the success of the meeting should ultimately be measured by the extent to which its resolutions translate into policies, programmes and reforms that deliver tangible improvements to Nigerians.