FG Launches High-Speed Rail Plan Linking Lagos and Maiduguri

On September 1, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced plans to develop a high-speed rail network connecting Lagos and Maiduguri, with projected train speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour. The announcement was made by Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, during the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja.

Adebiyi emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to create an integrated nationwide transportation network, which is vital for economic growth. The proposed corridor aims to significantly reduce travel time between major cities and provide an alternative to road transport.

Adebiyi also mentioned completed rail corridors, including Port Harcourt-Aba, Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan, and Abuja-Kaduna, and noted that construction on the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano corridor is nearing completion, expected to be operational by December. The project aims to improve market access, reduce highway congestion, and enhance business opportunities along the railway routes.