FG unveils national rail expansion, high-speed connectivity, smart transit reforms
Orisemeke Benjamin
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious expansion of Nigeria’s national rail network alongside major infrastructural and digital reforms designed to modernize the country’s transport sector. The initiatives feature plans for a high-speed rail line operating at up to 360 km/h, light rail projects in major cities, standardized bus terminals, and a centralized transport database.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, emphasised that the government is actively shifting away from an over-reliance on road transportation to build an integrated transit network across land, air, and sea.
Addressing the council’s theme, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” Adebiyi highlighted the critical role of connectivity in economic growth, noting that moving freight from trucks to rail will preserve roads, cut maintenance costs, and reduce traffic accidents nationwide.
“The government’s rail strategy is not only about passenger movement but also about reducing the enormous pressure placed on Nigeria’s roads by heavy-duty vehicles and freight,” Adebiyi stated. He detailed ongoing construction efforts, revealing that the Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor is expected to open by December, while progress continues on the Kaduna–Daura–Katsina, Katsina–Jibia–Maradi, and Kano–Dutse corridors.
To overhaul security and administrative oversight, the Federal Executive Council approved the Smart National Transport Data Bank under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Transfer model. The project will digitize vehicle registration and establish standardized passenger manifests at commercial parks nationwide.
“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,” Adebiyi explained.
In addition to digital tracking, the government approved six initial standardized bus terminals featuring modern amenities, security hubs, and mandatory safety compliance checks for commercial operators. Long-term initiatives include light rail projects for cities like Lagos and Kano, port automation reforms to clear maritime congestion, and a proposed high-speed train route connecting Lagos directly to Maiduguri.
Reinforcing the economic imperative of these developments, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, called for strong institutional frameworks to support the physical infrastructure.
Enitan described transportation as the “lifeblood of the modern economy,” stressing that the ultimate metric of success lies in converting policies into practical outcomes that enhance trade competitiveness and lower logistics costs for all Nigerians.
