Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the 7th National Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), themed “Repositioning Nigeria’s Transport Infrastructure and Governance Models for Global Competitiveness.”
Alkali revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the long-awaited National Land Transport Policy, which aims to harmonise operational standards, improve coordination, and foster private sector participation in transport development.
According to the minister, “Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, critical reforms and investments have accelerated across all transport modes, from rail to road, to make logistics more efficient and improve economic growth.”
He said major progress has been achieved in the railway sector, noting that the Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna standard gauge lines are fully operational, while the Kaduna–Kano segment is nearing completion. Work is also ongoing on the Kano–Maradi and Port Harcourt–Maiduguri lines, with approval granted for a new Ibadan–Minna standard gauge project to strengthen national connectivity.
To enhance accountability and service delivery, Alkali announced that the unbundling of the NRC is underway, separating its regulatory, operational, and asset management roles in line with global best practices.
He further stated that e-ticketing systems on key train routes have improved transparency, and a special committee has been set up to review ticketing challenges, especially on the Abuja–Kaduna route.
The minister also highlighted government efforts to decongest Apapa Port, improve road connectivity, and promote multimodal cargo evacuation. He commended engineers at the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, for developing logistics drones, adding that innovation will drive the future of transport in Nigeria.
In his remarks, CIOTA President, Segun Obayendo, applauded the progress made by the Tinubu administration and urged states to adopt their own transport policies to complement federal efforts. He stressed that global competitiveness in transport required seamless integration across all modes.
The unbundling of the NRC, established in 1955, is a key part of the government’s Railway Reform Agenda, which seeks to open the sector to private investment and improve efficiency through a modern governance structure.
