Nigeria Seeks Global Investment In Railway Infrastructure

At the 16th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macao, China, Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, called on Chinese and international investors to invest in the country's railway development.

He emphasized opportunities in:

Power supply systems

Integrated security solutions

Real-time monitoring

Public-private partnerships (PPPs)

Highlighting sustainability efforts, Alkali noted Nigeria is retrofitting locomotives to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

He cited ongoing successes, including:

Abuja–Kaduna line (operational since 2016)

Lagos–Ibadan line (launched in 2021)

Kaduna–Kano segment (under construction)

The Minister urged support for the final segment of the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Corridor (Ibadan–Minna–Abuja) to boost regional trade and trans-African logistics.

Future-ready projects seeking investors include:

Port Harcourt–Maiduguri (2,163km)

Aba–Owerri–Onitsha–Enugu Corridor (254km)

Lagos–Ibadan–Abuja High-Speed Rail (605km)

Kano–Gamboru-Ngala Line and others

He assured investors of strategic returns, citing the corridors’ location in key mineral, agricultural, and commercial zones, and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships.