...President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated, time and again, our national determination to connect our cities through roads and railways.
..We must be conscious of our place as the anchor of West Africa’s economy and home to the continent’s largest population as we prepare for the adoption of modern railway infrastructure - Vice President Shettima
Emmanuel Oduara
The Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that Nigeria must revive and revitalise its railways system to maintain its lead as the logistics hub of Africa.
This Shettima disclosed, in Abuja on Monday 15th September 2025, while declaring open the second International Railway Conference, with the theme: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN RAIL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: A CALL FOR INVESTMENT at Abuja Continental Hotel Abuja Nigeria.
The Vice President resured of a firm resolve of the Tinubu administration to link all cities in Nigeria through railways and roads to enhance industrialisation.
“President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated, time and again, our national determination to connect our cities through roads and railways, where industries can convey their products to the market, and where raw materials can move seamlessly from primary producers to industries without hindrance.”
He implored participants “to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to engage the resource team and to collectively sharpen the outcomes of” the conference.
He called for strong networking, partnerships, and collaboration among stakeholders, insisting that the task of taking full advantage of the numerous opportunities in the railway sector is not one to be taken lightly.
“The challenge ahead of us is to lead this race as the logistics hub of Africa by reviving and revitalising our railway services. We must be conscious of our place as the anchor of West Africa’s economy and home to the continent’s largest population as we prepare for the adoption of modern railway infrastructure, he said;
“This awakening inspired projects such as the Kano–Maradi railway modernisation, which opens new gateways for trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area”
The Transport Minister Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, in his speech reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing railway infrastructure.
He noted that recent approvals by the Federal Executive Council which includes construction of ultra-modern bus terminals in all six geopolitical zones, to improve passenger welfare etc.
He made a commitment for more Logistics, Economic Expansion, and Sustainability tied rail improvement to economic objectives: reducing strain on roads, cutting down transport cost, fostering trade, improving movement of goods/people, integration among Nigerian cities.
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpohas underscored the transformative potential of Nigeria’s vast gas reserves in powering the nation’s railway sector, particularly the 4,000 km, 350 km/h high-speed rail network poised to revolutionise connectivity and drive industrial growth across Nigeria and Africa, he stated in his address at the International Railway Conference 2025.
The Vice President however expressed his deepest appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for organising this conference in collaboration with De-Sadel Nigeria Limited and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, saying the “effort in reconnecting our partners in the rail industry across global jurisdictions is commendable.”
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