The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, has outlined a roadmap for expanding Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure in 2025, emphasizing rail modernization, cleaner energy adoption, and improved freight logistics.
In a budget defence session with the Joint Committees on Land Transport at the National Assembly in Abuja, Alkali reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing the Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan. He also appealed for sustained legislative support to address funding gaps, particularly challenges in securing counterpart financing through international loans.
The minister highlighted the sector’s transformative potential, describing transportation as “an enabler of economic growth and a gateway to the nation’s economy. He pointed to recent achievements, such as the operationalization of the rehabilitated Lagos-Kano narrow-gauge railway for freight movement. This, he noted, has revived trade between Lagos Port and Kano’s Dala Inland Dry Port.
Alkali also announced the commissioning of a 62km rail corridor linking Port Harcourt and Aba, aimed at connecting the Eastern Ports to the hinterland. These projects, he said, are integral to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, which prioritizes rail systems as a sustainable alternative to road transport.
In addressing the nation’s shift toward cleaner energy, Alkali detailed the Ministry’s partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Under this collaboration, 15 CNG-powered buses were distributed to key transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
“This initiative was aimed at easing transportation challenges caused by the removal of petrol subsidies and represents the government’s commitment to empowering citizens while transitioning to a cleaner energy economy,” Alkali explained. He added that CNG Conversion and Training Centres have been established in five states, with plans to expand nationwide.
Chairman of the Joint Senate/House Committees, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero, commended the Ministry’s efforts but underscored the need for greater investment in rail systems. “The nation’s progress is intricately tied to the efficiency and development of our transportation infrastructure, making this budget defence a pivotal moment for shaping the trajectory of our country’s future,” Aliero said.
The 2025 budget proposal, Alkali concluded, builds on the successes of the 2024 Appropriations Act, ensuring continuity in Nigeria’s developmental agenda and setting the stage for a more integrated and sustainable transportation network.
