FG Plans High-Speed Railine From Lagos To Maiduguri

By Sherif Salau

The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail corridor linking Lagos with Maiduguri. The proposed line is designed to support trains travelling at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to road travel between the commercial capital and the Northeast.

Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, disclosed the plan at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja. He described the project as part of efforts to build an integrated national transport network that improves the movement of people, goods and services, and reduces reliance on roads.

For Lagos State, the economic implications are significant. As Nigeria’s primary commercial and logistics centre, Lagos stands to gain from faster and more reliable connections to inland markets. Improved rail links would ease the flow of goods from the state’s major ports, lower transportation costs for businesses, and reduce pressure on congested highways.

Quicker passenger services would also strengthen commercial ties. Business owners, professionals and traders could travel more efficiently between Lagos and northern centres, supporting increased trade, investment and market expansion. This enhanced connectivity would reinforce Lagos’s position as the country’s leading economic hub and a key gateway for national commerce.

In the longer term, a high-speed corridor of this scale is expected to stimulate related economic activity around the Lagos terminus, including logistics, warehousing and service industries. By facilitating smoother movement of people and cargo, the project holds the potential to boost productivity, expand business opportunities and contribute to sustained economic growth in Lagos State.