Lagos to Maiduguri High-Speed Rail: FG Plans 360km/h Train Network
The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail line connecting Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to operate at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation.
The four-day event, themed “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” is focused on strengthening Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and promoting greater integration among road, rail, maritime and air transportation.
Adebiyi said the proposed Lagos-Maiduguri high-speed rail project was part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reduce the country’s reliance on road transportation while expanding rail, maritime and aviation infrastructure.
He described the railway sector as undergoing a “rebirth”, noting that several major corridors had already been completed and were operational.
Among the completed routes, he listed the Port Harcourt-Aba, Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines.
He also said work was progressing on several other railway projects across the country.
“The Kaduna–Zaria–Kano line is nearing completion and should open by December. The Kaduna–Daura–Katsina line is progressing, the Katsina–Jibia–Maradi link is targeted for next year, and work continues on Kano–Dutse,” Adebiyi said.
The permanent secretary further disclosed that light rail projects had been approved for Lagos and Kano, with plans to extend similar systems to other state capitals.
FG Promotes Rail Freight
Adebiyi said the government was also prioritising rail freight as part of efforts to reduce the number of heavy-duty trucks on Nigerian roads.
According to him, the expansion of dry ports would allow containers to be transported closer to their final destinations by rail, reducing road congestion, accidents and damage to highways.
He also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had approved the establishment of a smart national transport data bank under a design-build-finance-operate-and-transfer model.
The platform, he explained, would provide a centralised database containing information on drivers, vehicles, number plates and transport operators across the country.
It would also introduce standardised manifests at motor parks containing details of vehicles, drivers, passengers and destinations.
Adebiyi said the system would strengthen the government’s ability to identify passengers involved in road crashes and track traffic violations.
“This means that anytime a vehicle has an accident anywhere, you can pick the manifest and know who is inside and for what purpose, and computerised plate numbers will also make it easier to track traffic violations,” he said.
Six Standardised Bus Terminals Approved
The permanent secretary said the government had also approved six standardised bus terminals as a pilot project.
He explained that the terminals would feature passenger waiting areas, information systems, police posts, vehicle inspection bays, mechanic workshops, restaurants and restrooms.
He added that transport operators would be required to meet prescribed safety and regulatory standards, with sanctions for operators who fail to comply.
On the maritime sector, Adebiyi said reconstruction and automation projects were ongoing at Nigerian ports to improve cargo handling, reduce congestion and lower transportation costs.
Transport Investments to Create Jobs
Adebiyi said investments in the transport sector were also generating employment, with about 9,000 young people currently engaged across two major projects.
He said approximately 4,000 youths were working on one project, while another 5,000 were engaged on a separate project.
He also highlighted the Federal University of Transportation as part of the government’s efforts to develop specialised manpower for the country’s expanding transportation industry.
According to Adebiyi, the administration’s long-term goal is to establish a seamless integrated transportation system that will enable the efficient movement of people and goods across road, rail, air and waterways.
He said such an integrated system would help reduce logistics costs, improve safety, minimise the environmental impact of transportation and boost productivity across the Nigerian economy.
