The Federal Government has unveiled major initiatives to overhaul Nigeria’s transportation sector, including a Smart National Transport Data Bank, six standardised bus terminals nationwide, light rail projects for Kano and Lagos, and plans for a 360km/h high-speed rail line from Lagos to Maiduguri.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Monday at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja. He described the interventions as a deliberate shift away from over-dependence on road transport.
Speaking on the theme, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” Adebiyi said the administration was pursuing a “rebirth” of rail, while strengthening water and air transport to complement roads.
Adebiyi said transportation remained central to trade, employment and national growth, with rail key to reducing pressure on roads from heavy-duty vehicles.
He listed completed and operational corridors as Port Harcourt–Aba, Warri–Itakpe, Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna.
The Kaduna–Zaria–Kano line is nearing completion and expected to be operational by December, while work is progressing on the Kaduna–Daura–Katsina axis. The Katsina–Jibia–Maradi link is projected for completion next year, and work is ongoing on the Kano–Dutse corridor.
To demonstrate rail freight impact, he said he recently witnessed 33 40-foot containers loaded onto a train from the port to the Ibadan Dry Port.
“Technically, you have removed 33 trailers from the Lagos-Ibadan Road,” he said, noting that shifting cargo to rail will reduce congestion, accidents and road damage, while extending the lifespan of road infrastructure.
The government, he added, is also extending freight movement from Ibadan to other parts of the country through dry ports that serve as transfer hubs.
Another flagship project is the Smart National Transport Data Bank, recently approved by the Federal Executive Council under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Transfer model.
Adebiyi said the absence of a comprehensive transport database had long been a weakness. The new system will capture data on drivers, vehicles, plate numbers and operators nationwide.
“This simply means that anytime a vehicle has an accident anywhere, you can pick the manifest and know who is inside and for what purpose,” he said.
The initiative will also introduce standardised manifests at motor parks and computerised plate numbers to strengthen enforcement.
He revealed that the Federal Government has approved six standardised bus terminals nationwide as a pilot, saying the terminals will operate under uniform standards and feature waiting areas, passenger information systems, police posts, vehicle inspection bays, mechanic workshops, restaurants and restrooms.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that operators must meet regulatory and safety requirements, with licences subject to sanctions for violations.
According to him, to ease urban congestion, government has approved light rail projects for Kano and Lagos, with plans to extend similar systems to other state capitals.
Adebiyi also announced plans for a high-speed rail system from Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains potentially operating at up to 360 kilometres per hour.
“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.
On maritime, he said ports were undergoing reconstruction and automation to improve cargo handling and reduce congestion.
He disclosed that transportation investments had created about 9,000 jobs, citing roughly 4,000 workers on one project and over 5,000 on another. He also highlighted the establishment of the Federal University of Transportation to produce specialised manpower for the sector.
The broader goal, Adebiyi said, is an integrated system where road, rail, air and waterways complement one another to cut logistics costs, improve safety and stimulate growth.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Abel Enitan, represented by Dr. Ishaku Musa, said infrastructure alone was not enough. He called for strong institutions, effective regulation, reliable data, innovation and a skilled workforce.
“Transportation is the lifeblood of the modern economy,” Enitan said, urging greater coordination between federal and state governments.
Welcoming delegates, the Director of Planning and Coordination, Mrs. Jane Orjinta, said the council provided a platform for peer review and strategy realignment.
Delivering the keynote, Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Oche said Nigeria must prioritise public transportation through BRTs, light rail and metro rail supported by automated systems, and backed by dedicated agencies.
The four-day council is bringing together federal and state governments, transport agencies and development partners to develop strategies for a more efficient, affordable, safe and sustainable transportation system.