Federal Government has inaugurated a multi‑agency technical committee to review the $200 billion Integrated Gas, Power and High‑Speed Rail Project, saying the mega‑deal must be thoroughly vetted to safeguard national interests, ensure financing credibility and protect Nigeria from unseen liabilities.
The flagship infrastructure initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” announced in August 2025, was to simultaneously upgrade energy supply, industrialize the gas sector, and transform national transport connectivity.
It was also to break the cycle of poor power supply by directly linking Nigeria’s large gas reserves (over 200 trillion cubic feet proven) to power generation and rail electrification.
It was equally meant to de‑congest road networks and reduce transport costs by shifting long‑haul freight and passenger traffic to high‑speed rail, with commercial speeds projected around 200–250 km/h.
The project was to position Nigeria as a regional logistics and manufacturing hub by clustering industries along the rail‑gas‑power corridors.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, in his remarks stressed that the proposal, put forward by the De‑Sadel (Nig.) Limited consortium in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited (Liancai Group), was “too large and too important” to be rushed.
Akume said the project, estimated at about $200 billion was envisioned as a multi‑phase programme integrating gas development, power generation and transmission, and the construction of a 4,000‑kilometre high‑speed rail network linking major economic corridors such as Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Port Harcourt.
“These kinds of projects have the potential to transform Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth and deepen national integration,” Akume stated. “But they must also be carefully evaluated to ensure they align with national priorities, are technically sound, financially viable, and fully compliant with Nigeria’s legal and regulatory frameworks.”
He disclosed that his had received inputs from security, financial intelligence and regulatory agencies, especially on the consortium’s financial support arrangements and the profile of the participating entities, hence the need for a coordinated technical review.
The inter‑agency Technical Committee was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Political & Economic Affairs Office, OSGF, and included representation from the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Petroleum Resources, Finance, Justice, and Environment; the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Debt Management Office (DMO), and others.
The Committee’s terms of reference required it to verify proof of funds and assess financial, sovereign and contingent‑liability risks, as well as review the integrated oil & gas–rail financing model and any proposed oil and gas asset divestments.
Members were also tasked with conducting technical and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) due diligence on China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited and its proposed partners China Railway Group Limited/China Railway Engineering Corporation, while ensuring compliance with Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) guidelines, including risk allocation, environmental and social safeguards, and resettlement issues.
Akume urged Committee members to “approach this assignment with the highest level of professionalism, objectivity and patriotism,” adding that “your collective expertise and institutional knowledge will be critical in ensuring that the Federal Government receives relevant recommendations that will guide appropriate decisions at the highest level.”
