Nigeria’s high-speed rail revolution: Work begins on $16 bln Abuja-Lagos line in February – Idris

The Federal Government is set to launch the highly anticipated Lagos-Abuja Super Highway/High-Speed Train Project in February 2025.

This ambitious initiative aims to significantly bolster Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure, aligning with the government’s priority to enhance connectivity and mobility across the country.

According to Mr. Mutiu Yinka Idris, the Director of Operations at AEC-Geofocus, the consortium overseeing the project, the estimated cost of the Lagos-Abuja Super Highway/High-Speed Train Project is approximately $16 billion.

Idris revealed this during a media engagement in Ibadan, providing insight into the scope and scale of this landmark infrastructure development.

He said the ambitious project, spanning 500 kilometers, will link Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The project, he explained, will adopt a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) model.

“The $16 billion endeavor will be spearheaded by AEC-Geofocus, a collaborative effort of engineers, planners, and investors, with plans firmly in place to kick off by February of the current year, 2024.”

The high-speed train project will feature a dual-gauge rail line capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 km/hr, with primary stations in Lagos and Abuja, along with 11 intermediate stops.

This development is expected to reduce travel time between Lagos and Abuja to under 3 hours by rail and less than 5 hours by road.

“The highway will consist of 8 lanes, 2 service lanes, and 13 tolling points. Encompassed within the project scope are 10 smart cities, 1 million housing units, and an Independent Power Plant.”

Idris sees the project as a groundbreaking initiative that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to upgrade Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure.

According to Idris, the project will significantly boost citizens’ economic prosperity by improving living standards through strategic initiatives under President Tinubu’s administration.

Tinubu’s vision encompasses a wide range of policies aimed at transforming Nigeria for the better, promising a brighter future for its citizens.