- Safiu Kehinde
The federal government has announced plan to develop a high-speed rail line from Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to run at up to 360 kilometres per hour.
Olufunso Adebiyi, the permanent secretary at the ministry of transportation, disclosed the plan while speaking at the opening of the 19th national council on transportation in Abuja.
Adebiyi, in his address, said the proposed rail line is part of the government’s efforts to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on roads by developing rail, maritime, and air transportation.
“The objective is to give Nigerians the freedom to choose between road, rail, air and water transportation rather than forcing citizens to depend almost entirely on roads,” He said.
The official said the government was pursuing what he labelled a “rebirth” of the railway sector while also developing road, maritime and air transportation.
The rail transport, he claimed, would help reduce pressure on roads, particularly from heavy-duty vehicles, while improving movement across the country.
According to reports, the proposed Lagos-Maiduguri high-speed rail line would extend rail connectivity between Nigeria’s commercial centre in the southwest and Maiduguri in the northeast.
However, the federal government is yet to announce a construction timeline, project cost or completion date for the proposed high-speed route.