FG Plans 360km/h High-Speed Rail Line Linking Lagos To Maiduguri

FG Plans 360km/h High-Speed Rail Line Linking Lagos to Maiduguri

The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high speed rail line linking Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to operate at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed the plan in Abuja during the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation. Adebiyi said the proposed project forms part of the Federal Government’s broader plan to transform Nigeria’s transportation system and provide citizens with greater choice between road, rail, air and water transport. According to him, the government is pursuing a “rebirth” of the railway sector as part of efforts to reduce pressure on Nigeria’s roads, particularly from heavy-duty vehicles, while improving the movement of passengers and goods across the country. The proposed Lagos-Maiduguri route would connect Nigeria’s commercial hub in the southwest with Maiduguri in the northeast, significantly expanding the country’s inter-regional rail connectivity. The announcement comes after the Federal Government earlier began reviewing a proposed 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network that would connect all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The wider proposal includes major economic corridors such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, with trains expected to cut inter-city travel times substantially. The government has also announced plans for a Smart National Transport Data Bank, six standardised bus terminals and additional light rail projects in Lagos and Kano as part of efforts to create a more integrated national transportation network. However, details such as the construction cost, funding structure, construction timeline and expected completion date for the Lagos-Maiduguri high-speed rail line have not yet been publicly disclosed. If implemented, the project could significantly improve passenger and freight movement between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria while reducing dependence on road transportation.