The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail line linking Lagos with Maiduguri, with trains expected to operate at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation.
Adebiyi said the proposed rail project forms part of the government’s broader plan to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on road transportation and provide Nigerians with more options for moving people and goods.
He said the objective was to give citizens the freedom to choose between road, rail, air and water transportation rather than relying almost entirely on roads.
According to him, the Federal Government is pursuing a “rebirth” of the railway sector alongside investments in road, maritime and air transportation.
Adebiyi said expanded rail services would ease pressure on the nation’s roads, particularly by reducing the movement of heavy-duty vehicles, while improving connectivity and lowering logistics costs.
He also announced plans for a Smart National Transport Data Bank and six standardised bus terminals across the country. Light rail projects are also being pursued in Lagos and Kano.
The permanent secretary said investments in the transportation sector had so far generated about 9,000 jobs, citing projects employing about 4,000 and more than 5,000 workers respectively.
He added that the Federal University of Transportation was part of efforts to develop the skilled manpower required to support the sector.
On maritime transportation, Adebiyi said ports were undergoing reconstruction and automation to improve cargo handling and reduce congestion.
The four-day 19th National Council on Transportation, attended by federal and state governments, transport agencies and development partners, is being held under the theme: “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation.”
While the proposed Lagos-Maiduguri line would connect Nigeria’s commercial hub in the southwest with the northeast, the government has yet to announce the project’s cost, construction timeline or completion date.