The Federal Government has unveiled plans to link all seaports in Nigeria by railway, a move aimed at cutting logistics costs, easing cargo movement, and boosting trade efficiency across the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during the 2025 Nigeria Transport Sector Summit organised by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) in Lagos.
The ministers said the initiative forms part of government’s broader commitment to transforming the land transport and marine sectors through massive infrastructure investment, manpower development, and policy reforms.
“Connecting our seaports by rail will reduce logistics costs, enhance the evacuation of bulky imports and exports, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade,” they said.
Highlighting the progress made so far, the ministers noted that the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail corridor is advancing steadily, with the Port Harcourt–Aba segment already completed and operational.
They added that the Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines have achieved over 50% and 60% completion, respectively — a significant leap from 5–15% at the start of the current administration.
“At the pace we are going, the Kano–Maradi line will reach Katsina by December 2025 and be ready for full completion by March 2027,” Alkali disclosed.
The ministers affirmed that these projects are critical to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential, driving inclusive growth, and enhancing regional trade integration.
