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The Federal Government has unveiled plans for a high-speed rail corridor linking Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to reach speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.
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The proposed rail network is expected to significantly cut travel time between major cities while providing Nigerians with a faster and safer alternative to long-distance road transportation.
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Government says the railway expansion forms part of efforts to build an integrated national transportation system that will facilitate the movement of people, goods and services across the country.
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The Federal Government also disclosed that the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano rail line is nearing completion and is expected to become operational by December, alongside ongoing work on other regional rail corridors.
September 01, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has unveiled plans to develop a high-speed rail network linking Lagos and Maiduguri, with trains on the proposed corridor projected to operate at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.
The ambitious plan, which is part of the administration’s broader efforts to establish an integrated nationwide transportation network, was disclosed on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja.
Adebiyi said the proposed high-speed rail corridor would substantially reduce travel time between major cities along the route while offering Nigerians a viable alternative to road transportation.
He spoke on the theme, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” stressing that an efficient transportation system remained fundamental to economic growth because of its role in moving people, goods and services.
According to him, the Federal Government’s renewed investment in railway infrastructure represents a rebirth of rail transportation in Nigeria and is intended to strengthen connectivity between different parts of the country.
He listed some of the rail corridors that have already been completed to include Port Harcourt-Aba, Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna.
Adebiyi further disclosed that construction work on the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano rail corridor was nearing completion and would become operational by December.
He also said work was progressing on other strategic corridors, including Kaduna-Daura-Katsina, Katsina-Jibia-Maradi and Kano-Dutse, indicating that the government was pursuing railway development beyond the existing major routes.
The proposed Lagos-Maiduguri high-speed rail link, when developed, would connect major economic and population centres across the country and could significantly reshape long-distance passenger and freight movement.
The project is also expected to deepen economic integration by improving access to markets, reducing the burden on highways and creating greater opportunities for businesses along the railway corridors.
Transport Integration
Adebiyi emphasised that railway development could not be pursued in isolation, stressing the need for an integrated transportation system in which rail, road and other modes complement one another.
He said transportation remained central to national development because the efficient movement of people and goods directly affects commerce, productivity and economic activities.
Adebiyi described the ongoing railway projects as part of efforts to reposition the country’s transportation infrastructure and provide Nigerians with more efficient mobility options.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, said infrastructure development must be matched by strong institutions, effective regulation, reliable data, innovation and a skilled workforce.
Enitan described transportation as the “lifeblood of the economy,” stressing that infrastructure alone would not be sufficient to deliver an efficient and sustainable transport system.
He called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments and transportation agencies to ensure that investments in infrastructure translate into improved services for Nigerians.
Enitan also underscored the importance of institutional capacity, regulation and data-driven planning in ensuring that the country’s transportation system responds effectively to the needs of a growing population and economy.
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