Share!
The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level technical committee to review a proposed $200 billion integrated infrastructure project featuring a 4,000-kilometre inter-city high-speed rail network expected to link all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said the project is designed to transform Nigeria’s transport and energy landscape while driving economic growth and national integration.
Akume explained that the ambitious initiative combines gas development, power generation and transmission, and a nationwide rail system connecting major economic hubs, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.
“The proposed project is envisioned as a multi-phase programme that integrates gas, power, and high-speed rail infrastructure. It has the potential to significantly transform Nigeria’s transport system, strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth, and deepen national integration,” he said.
He noted that the committee has been mandated to scrutinise all aspects of the proposal, including technical, legal, and environmental considerations, verify claims by the project promoters, and provide objective, evidence-based recommendations to guide government decisions.
The SGF urged members of the committee to approach the assignment with professionalism, patriotism, and due diligence, while engaging relevant stakeholders and ensuring compliance with international best practices.
The technical committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, and includes Permanent Secretaries from key ministries such as Transportation, Petroleum Resources, Finance, Justice, and Environment.
Other members are drawn from major regulatory and security institutions, including the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Debt Management Office (DMO), among others.
Presenting details of the proposal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of De-Sadel Nigeria Limited, Mr. Samuel Ukoh, described the project as a transformative initiative that would revolutionise Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.
He disclosed that the 4,000km dual-track high-speed rail system is designed to reduce inter-city travel time by up to 75 per cent while connecting all states of the federation and the FCT.
Ukoh added that the project’s first phase will link major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, and will be supported by the generation of about 3,500 megawatts of power to drive the rail network.
Analysts say the project, if implemented, could mark a major leap in Nigeria’s infrastructure development, significantly improving mobility, boosting trade, and enhancing regional connectivity across the country
