Nigeria seeks Chinese, global investors to improve railway infrastructure
By Kunle Sanni
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, has urged Chinese investors and the international community to deepen their involvement in Nigeria’s expanding railway sector.
Speaking at the 16th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) in Macao, Alkali outlined fresh opportunities in dedicated power systems, integrated security solutions, and real-time monitoring technologies to safeguard railway corridors and improve efficiency.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s railway modernization extends beyond track-laying and locomotive procurement, calling for partnerships that will deliver secure, resilient, and sustainable transport networks.
“China has been a trusted partner in our infrastructure journey, and we seek to strengthen this bond,” Alkali said. “We invite global investors to view Nigeria not just as a market, but as a strategic hub for regional connectivity in Africa.”
Alkali noted Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability by retrofitting locomotives with hybrid propulsion systems powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
He highlighted the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway Project as a key initiative under Nigeria’s modernization programme, executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
The minister said the Abuja–Kaduna line, completed in 2016, serves as a vital transport artery in the North, while the Lagos–Ibadan line, launched in 2021, continues to spur economic activity along the corridor.
Despite financial challenges, construction on the Kaduna–Kano segment is ongoing. Alkali stressed that completing the final link — the Ibadan–Minna–Abuja segment — will reduce logistics costs, boost inter-regional trade, and strengthen Africa-wide transport networks.
