“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.”
— Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of TransportationHe described the initiative as a “rebirth” of Nigeria’s railway sector. According to him, the government is simultaneously investing in road, maritime, and air transportation to build a more balanced system.

“We are pursuing a rebirth of the railway sector, while also developing our road, maritime and air transportation networks.”
— Olufunso Adebiyi

Adebiyi noted that rail transport would ease the pressure heavy-duty vehicles place on Nigerian roads. He added that a stronger rail network would improve the movement of people and goods nationwide.

Beyond the Lagos–Maiduguri route, the government revealed plans for a Smart National Transport Data Bank. Officials also announced six standardised bus terminals that will be built across the country.

Adebiyi confirmed that light rail projects are already underway in Lagos and Kano. He said these projects support the government’s goal of creating a fully integrated transport system.

The permanent secretary highlighted the economic impact of these investments so far. He said the transportation sector has generated close to 9,000 jobs through ongoing projects.

He cited one project that employs about 4,000 workers and another that has created jobs for more than 5,000 people. Adebiyi also pointed to the Federal University of Transportation as a key step toward building skilled manpower for the sector.

On maritime development, Adebiyi said Nigerian ports are undergoing reconstruction and automation. He explained that these upgrades aim to speed up cargo handling and reduce congestion at the ports.

He stressed that the government is designing all transportation modes to work together. This integration, he said, will help lower logistics costs across the country.

The 19th National Council on Transportation runs for four days. The event brings together federal and state governments, transport agencies, and development partners to discuss ways to strengthen Nigeria’s transport system.

Organisers held this year’s council under the theme “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation.”

The proposed Lagos–Maiduguri high-speed line would link Nigeria’s commercial hub in the southwest to Maiduguri in the northeast. This route would mark a major expansion of the country’s rail network.

However, the government has not yet released a construction timeline for the project. Officials also have not disclosed the expected cost or a target completion date.

Nigerians will be watching closely to see how quickly these plans move from announcement to execution. For now, the government maintains that rail remains central to its long-term transportation strategy.