FG secures funding for Aba–Maiduguri rail line, revives Lagos–Kano freight corridor

The Federal Government has secured full financing for the Aba–Maiduguri railway corridor, a major segment of the 1,443-kilometre Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway Project.

Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, announced the development on Wednesday during a government-citizen engagement forum held at Arewa House in Kaduna.

According to the Minister, the newly financed corridor will traverse eight states — Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Benue — boosting connectivity and economic integration across Nigeria’s eastern flank.

“This milestone is a demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing critical infrastructure, particularly in under-served regions,” Alkali said.

He further revealed that the federal government has also completed the rehabilitation of the old Lagos–Kano Narrow Gauge railway line, with freight services now fully operational, linking Apapa Port in Lagos to the Kano Inland Dry Port.

“This development restores a vital freight route, easing congestion at the ports and enhancing trade between the southern and northern regions,” the Minister added.

The Eastern Narrow Gauge and Lagos–Kano rail projects are part of broader efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to modernize transport infrastructure, improve logistics efficiency, and unlock economic potential in key sectors across the country.

Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, confirmed the announcement in a statement issued from Kaduna.