Nigeria Seeks Strategic Partnership for Railway Development at IIICF in China
Oru Leonard
The Honourable Minister of Transportation in Nigeria, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, has called for strategic partnerships to develop the country’s infrastructure and enhance regional integration. He made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 16th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) in Macao, People’s Republic of China.
Alkali highlighted the strong partnership between Nigeria and China in infrastructure development, particularly in railway projects. He cited the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway Project as a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s railway modernization program.
He listed Completed Projects to include: The Abuja-Kaduna Railway Line and Lagos-Ibadan Railway Line have been completed and are operational. Construction is ongoing on the Kaduna-Kano Railway Line, and the Minister is seeking support to complete the remaining segment (Ibadan-Minna-Abuja).
Alkali enumerated future opportunities for strategic partnerships to develop additional railway corridors, including:
– Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway with Branch Lines
– Aba-Owerri-Nnewi-Onitsha-Awka-Enugu-Abakaliki Corridor
– Kano-Nguru-Gashua-Damaturu-Gamboru-Ngala Line
– Lagos-Ibadan-Abuja High-Speed Rail Line
-Private Sector Participation*: The Minister disclosed opportunities for private sector participation in dedicated power supply schemes, integrated security solutions, and real-time monitoring systems.
He further said Nigeria is embracing sustainability in its railway development strategy, including retrofitting locomotives to accommodate hybrid propulsion systems powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Alkali invited global investors, financiers, and infrastructure developers to consider Nigeria as a strategic hub for African regional connectivity.
