$3bn funding for Eastern Rail Project will unlock business opportunities – Minister
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, has stated that the recent approval of $3bn for the completion of the Eastern Rail Project by the Federal Executive Council is a strategic move that will unlock a vital artery for Nigeria’s economy. Speaking during the Nigeria Transport and Logistics Leadership Summit yesterday in Abuja, Sen. […]
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, has stated that the recent approval of $3bn for the completion of the Eastern Rail Project by the Federal Executive Council is a strategic move that will unlock a vital artery for Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking during the Nigeria Transport and Logistics Leadership Summit yesterday in Abuja, Sen. Alkali said tangible progress is already being recorded across multiple fronts in the country from rail to road, pipeline transportation and varied innovations that are designed to transform the sector towards more efficient service delivery consistent with international best practices.
He noted that the country is witnessing a quiet revolution in the rail transport sector with the 284-kilometre Kano–Katsina–Maradi Standard Gauge rail project and the Kaduna–Kano rail line nearing completion.
He added that there are ongoing efforts to upgrade the national pipeline transport network to ensure the efficient transport of oil and gas under the rail modernisation projects.
“This initiative will strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on road-based haulage, and promote environmental sustainability by cutting emissions from heavy-duty trucks.
“I am delighted to inform the participants of this Summit that under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, this administration is committed to transforming Nigeria’s transport and logistics landscape. Through strategic investment, sound policy reform, and active collaboration with stakeholders such as those represented here today, we are converting these challenges into historic opportunities.”
On his part, the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr Bayero Salih Farah, said the global transport and logistics sector is rapidly evolving, shaped by digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, and the growing demand for resilient infrastructure. “Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, blockchain, and the Internet of Things are redefining supply chains and mobility. Equally, the urgency of addressing climate change and the global transition to low-carbon economies are reshaping the way nations plan, construct, and operate transport systems.”