SGF inaugurates committee to review $200bn integrated gas, power, high-speed rail project
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has inaugurated a high-level technical committee to review a proposed $200 billion Integrated Gas, Power and High-Speed Rail Project.
The project is designed to integrate gas development, power generation and transmission, alongside a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network connecting major economic corridors, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
In his remarks on Thursday in Abuja, Akume said the initiative has the potential to reshape Nigeria’s transport and energy landscape, strengthen industrial growth, enhance energy security, and promote national integration.
He noted that the committee’s mandate includes critically examining all project documents, verifying claims by the promoters, and assessing the technical, legal, environmental, and financial aspects of the proposal before advising the Federal Government.
“The committee is expected to ensure due diligence and provide objective, evidence-based recommendations to guide government decision-making,” he said, urging members to carry out their assignment with professionalism, objectivity, and patriotism.
The committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, and includes representatives from key ministries and agencies such as Transportation, Petroleum Resources, Finance, Justice, Environment, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Debt Management Office (DMO), and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, among others.
Presenting the project, Managing Director/CEO of De-Sadel Nigeria Limited, Samuel Ukoh, described it as a transformative infrastructure initiative that would revolutionize transportation in the country.
He said the proposed 4,000km dual-track high-speed rail system would cut inter-city travel time by up to 75 percent and connect all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, the first phase will link Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, with an integrated power component expected to generate about 3,500 megawatts to support operations.
