High-Speed Rail Project: FG Eyes Lagos to Maiduguri Corridor
The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail system linking Lekki in Lagos to Maiduguri, Borno State, with trains expected to travel at about 360 kilometres per hour.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, disclosed this in Abuja during the 19th National Council on Transportation. Adebiyi said the proposed rail system would significantly reduce road travel time and encourage Nigerians to choose rail transportation for long-distance journeys.
He said, “Let me announce to you also that plans are in place to develop a fast rail system from Lekki to as far as Maiduguri. And 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.
“So, at the end of this particular project that we are working on, you will now agree with me that if you join a train in Abuja and in three hours you are in Lagos, why will you go on the road? You won’t need to carry your car, being on the road. So I just want to assure you that plans are in place to improve our transport infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The permanent secretary also announced that the Federal University in Daura had been established to develop manpower for the transport sector, particularly road transportation.
According to him, the institution would produce its first set of graduates next year. He said, “The Federal University in Daura is now established for the purpose of developing capacity for educated youths and producing graduates to work primarily in our transport sector, especially road transport.
“So, we’ll be producing the first graduates next year, which is a great development. It’s strictly for transportation, exclusively for transportation personnel. So, the issue of personnel will soon be the thing of the past.”
Adebiyi said the government was also working to improve the efficiency, safety and affordability of transportation across the country. He added, “And not only that, but transport also reduces congestion and environmental impact. It promotes national development. Not only that, I can assure you it saves time, reduces costs, improves productivity, enhances safety, improves quality of life.”
He further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had approved the implementation of a Smart National Transport Data Bank to strengthen policy formulation and institutional coordination in the sector.
According to him, the project would be implemented under the design, build, finance, operate and transfer model. He said the database would provide comprehensive information on vehicles, drivers, road users and transport workers across the country.
He said, “On the part of strengthening policy formulation and efficient institutional coordination that the ministry seeks, it sought and secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council for the implementation of a smart national transport data bank.
“It’s a project under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer. In Nigeria today, we need to know how many Nigerians actually have our driver’s licence in their hands. How many Nigerians have cars? How many cars do we even have in Nigeria? How many plate numbers have you issued by Road Safety? Again, how many people are actually road users, transport workers, road transport workers?”
Adebiyi said the proposed data bank would also help standardise motor parks and introduce passenger manifests containing key information that could assist authorities during emergencies and accidents.
He said, “Every state, every community has a car park. This car park will end up being standardised, so that when a vehicle loads in a particular motor park, there is a manifest. And that manifest will have the next of kin, the telephone number of that next of kin, his own number as well, and where he is leaving from, to where.
“So anytime a vehicle has an accident, anywhere, you can pick the manifest and know who is inside and for what purpose.”
He added that vehicle plate numbers would likely be computerised to enable authorities to track motorists who violate traffic regulations.
He said, “Again, vehicular licence, plate numbers will now be, very likely they will change your plate numbers to a computerised one, so that when you violate road safety rule, and you think you have escaped, sorry for you, because your plate number will tell us even your residential address, will tell us your telephone number, will tell us where you live, where did you leave that place, where are you going, and they can pick you up at ease.
“And your driver’s licence will not be an everlasting one. You violate some rules, road safety will do their job. You don’t need to struggle. Just get the plate number, all the files will be out. This is what we are likely to be doing.”
The permanent secretary also announced plans to establish standardised bus terminals across the country, beginning with six terminals. According to him, the facilities would include waiting rooms, police booths, mechanic workshops, restaurants and restrooms, among others.
He said, “And again, every bus terminal, and I’m glad to announce to you that the Federal Government has also approved, we will be having standardised bus terminals across Nigeria, starting with six.
“Now, these bus terminals will be standardised such that each bus terminal will have some minimum operational standard. Meaning for everyone, you will have a waiting room where you will have a screen showing you television until you are called to board.
“You will also have a police booth, you will have a mechanic booth where they will check the vehicle to be sure that it’s roadworthy before you leave the place. It’s regulated, it’s fenced, and again, everybody using it is registered. They make your comfort as easy as possible.
“You have unclaimed luggage, you have so many things, so many facilities there. Even restaurants will be there. Restrooms will be there.”
Adebiyi further stated that operators would no longer be allowed to commence commercial road transport operations without obtaining the required licence from the Federal Road Safety Corps.
He said, “And nobody can just say, I have money, I want to buy some vehicles, I want to start road transport work. No, road safety must licence you before you can take off under the criteria. You must demonstrate seriousness, commitment, and diligence before you are allowed to run a transport company.
“And when you misbehave, that licence is not forever. They are all renewable. Even your plate number is not forever. So, all these are things that we will be hearing the details about this new project.”
He also disclosed that the National Land Transport Policy, earlier approved at the last National Council on Transportation, would be unveiled by Thursday. He said, “Again, at our last council, it was also approved that we should have a national land transport policy. I’m glad to announce to you that by Thursday, that land transport policy will be in the field. We will witness it. And the policy is not just a decoration; it’s a call to duty because it will be enforced as much as possible.”
Adebiyi said the Federal Government would continue to expand the country’s rail network and integrate road, rail and water transportation.
He disclosed, “Ladies and gentlemen, the government has also continued to work towards further expansion of rail network in Nigeria.
“Let’s be rest assured that in no distant time, road transport, rail transport, water transport will all be interconnected.”
He added that the government had approved light rail projects for Kano, Kaduna and Lagos, with plans to extend similar projects to other state capitals.
He said, “And somewhere along the line again, you will have noticed that the government has also approved not just the new rail project, but some light rail projects for Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos to start with. And I’m assuring that other states’ capitals will still have light rail projects to offload the road pavement of these excess loads.”
The permanent secretary stressed the need to give Nigerians more transportation options, saying citizens should be able to choose their preferred mode of travel, saying, “Nigeria deserves the right to choose at any time. Therefore, their preferred transport mode when planning to take a trip from point A to point B, it should be their prerogative so that people are not compelled to travel by road only. Tourists in our country do not have to fly to connect cities in the country all the time.”