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From Idu Jude, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s ongoing railway modernisation projects are designed not only to prepare for the country’s explosive population growth but also to position Nigeria as Africa’s logistics hub.
Speaking at the 2nd International Railway Conference and Expo in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the rail system as “the backbone of industrialisation” and a bridge between Nigeria’s economy and the world.
“It was a miracle of its age,” he said, recalling how railways transformed societies at the height of the steam engine era. “They connect raw materials to factories, workers to opportunities, and farmers to markets. They shape not only economies but also the cultural and social bonds of societies”, he added.
Nigeria’s population, he noted, is projected to reach 440 million by 2050, making it the third most populous nation on earth, surpassing the United States. “Today, more than at any point in our journey as a nation, we are in greater need of railway services for two compelling reasons, the size of our economy and the sheer scale of our population,” he stressed.
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Tinubu explained that the administration is prioritising major projects such as the Kano–Maradi rail line, already at 60 per cent completion and the Kaduna–Kano modernisation project, now over 50 per cent completed. He added that the aim is to reduce the heavy reliance on roads, which has resulted in congestion, infrastructure decay, and high accident rates.
“Railways offer safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives, reducing carbon emissions and reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development,” Tinubu said, while urging private sector participation in financing and sustaining the sector.
Transportation Minister, Said Alkali, also highlighted progress, including the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Kano narrow gauge line, construction of modern bus terminals across six geopolitical zones, and the rollout of dual-fuel locomotive technology.
“The railway is not only about cargo and revenue. It is about national unity,” he noted.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opening new opportunities, the Federal Government insists Nigeria’s railway modernisation will “revive and revitalise” the economy, connect markets, and secure the country’s leadership in African logistics.
