FG Plans 360km/h Rail Link From Lagos To Maiduguri

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to develop a high-speed rail line linking Lekki in Lagos to Maiduguri, Borno State, with trains expected to operate at speeds of about 360 kilometres per hour.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, disclosed this in Abuja at the 19th National Council on Transportation, saying the project would transform long-distance travel and provide Nigerians with an alternative to road transportation.

Adebiyi said the proposed line could be constructed on elevated structures in some sections to facilitate high-speed operations.

“Plans are in place to develop a fast rail system from Lekki to as far as Maiduguri. This rail system may not necessarily be on land directly. It will be on piles so that it will be on the fast lane at about 360 kilometres per hour,” he said.

He said the speed of the proposed railway would make rail travel more attractive for inter-city journeys, particularly between major urban centres.

Adebiyi noted that a journey between Abuja and Lagos could eventually take about three hours by rail, making it less necessary for travellers to embark on long road trips.

He said the government was pursuing broader reforms to make transportation safer, more efficient and affordable, while reducing congestion and the environmental burden associated with road travel.

Beyond the rail expansion, the permanent secretary disclosed plans to strengthen manpower development for the transport industry through the Federal University in Daura.

According to him, the institution, established specifically to develop skilled personnel for the transportation sector, is expected to produce its first graduates next year.

He said the university would focus on producing professionals capable of meeting the manpower needs of the country’s transport industry, particularly road transportation.

Adebiyi also announced that the Federal Executive Council had approved the establishment of a Smart National Transport Data Bank to improve planning, regulation and coordination across the sector.

The project, which will operate under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer model, is expected to provide government with comprehensive data on vehicles, drivers, road users and transport workers.

He said the database would help answer basic questions about the country’s transport system, including the number of licensed drivers, registered vehicles and issued number plates.

The proposed system would also introduce greater organisation into motor parks through standardised facilities and passenger manifests.

Under the arrangement, passengers using registered motor parks would have their details captured, including their telephone numbers and next-of-kin information, alongside their points of departure and destination.

Adebiyi said the system would be particularly useful during road crashes and other emergencies, as authorities would be able to quickly establish the identities of people travelling in affected vehicles.

The government also plans to computerise vehicle number plates as part of efforts to strengthen enforcement of traffic regulations.

Adebiyi said the system would enable authorities to access relevant vehicle and driver information when motorists violate road safety rules, while driving licences would also be subject to renewal and enforcement measures rather than being treated as permanent documents.

In another development, the government plans to establish standardised bus terminals across the country, beginning with six facilities.

The terminals, according to Adebiyi, will have minimum operational standards and include waiting areas, police booths, vehicle inspection and mechanic facilities, restaurants, restrooms and provisions for handling unclaimed luggage.

He said vehicles would be inspected for roadworthiness before leaving the terminals, while operators and users of the facilities would be registered.

Adebiyi further warned that individuals and companies would no longer be allowed to commence commercial road transport operations without meeting licensing requirements set by the Federal Road Safety Corps.

He said operators would have to demonstrate the required level of seriousness, commitment and diligence before being allowed to begin operations, adding that licences would be renewable and could be withdrawn when operators violate regulations.

The permanent secretary also disclosed that the National Land Transport Policy, approved at the previous National Council on Transportation, would be unveiled on Thursday.

He said the policy was intended to provide a framework for improving land transportation and would be enforced rather than treated as a mere policy document.

On the wider rail development programme, Adebiyi said the government was working towards connecting road, rail and water transportation to create an integrated national transport network.

He disclosed that light rail projects had already been approved for Kano, Kaduna and Lagos, with plans to extend similar projects to other state capitals.

According to him, the light rail schemes are expected to ease pressure on roads by providing additional options for commuters and travellers.

Adebiyi stressed that Nigerians should have the freedom to choose how they travel between cities, arguing that the country must move away from a system where road transport remains the dominant option for virtually every journey.

“Nigeria deserves the right to choose at any time their preferred transport mode when planning to take a trip from point A to point B,” he said.

He added that tourists and other travellers should not be compelled to rely on air travel when moving between Nigerian cities, insisting that an interconnected transport system would provide more affordable and convenient alternatives.