The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail corridor connecting Lagos to Maiduguri, in what could become one of Nigeria’s most ambitious transportation projects.
The proposed railway would accommodate trains travelling at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour, potentially cutting travel time between major cities and giving Nigerians a faster alternative to road transportation.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed the plan on Monday during the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja.
According to Adebiyi, the Lagos-Maiduguri corridor is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to build an integrated transportation system that combines rail, road, air and water transport.
He described the ongoing development of Nigeria’s railway sector as a “rebirth” aimed at reducing the country’s heavy dependence on roads.
If developed, the high-speed corridor would connect Nigeria’s commercial hub in the southwest with Maiduguri in Borno State, creating a major rail link across a significant portion of the country.
The government says expanding rail transportation would not only improve passenger movement but also help shift freight away from highways.
Moving more cargo by rail could reduce the number of heavy-duty trucks on major roads, potentially easing congestion, reducing road accidents and limiting damage to highways.
The announcement comes as work continues on several other railway corridors across the country. The government says the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano line is nearing completion and is expected to become operational by December 2026. Work is also progressing on the Kaduna-Daura-Katsina, Katsina-Jibia-Maradi and Kano-Dutse corridors.
The government has also highlighted the completed or operational Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Port Harcourt-Aba and Warri-Itakpe rail corridors.
Beyond rail, the Federal Government also announced plans for a Smart National Transport Data Bank and six standardised bus terminals as part of efforts to modernise the country’s transportation system.
The proposed data bank is expected to integrate information on drivers, vehicles, number plates and transport operators, while the new bus terminals are designed to improve passenger safety and transport regulation.
The Lagos-Maiduguri high-speed railway remains a proposed project, and authorities have not announced a construction start date or completion timeline for the corridor.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
