The Federal Government is preparing to launch a new National Railway Development Roadmap aimed at linking all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through a unified rail network.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, announced the plan during the 7th National Transport Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration in Abuja.

Dr. Opeifa explained that the new roadmap is part of a broader strategy to modernize and expand Nigeria’s rail infrastructure, while encouraging greater state participation in railway development.

He noted that recent legislative reforms now permit state governments to engage in rail construction and operations, allowing them to leverage existing national rail corridors at no additional cost.

“We are saying where there is a national rail asset, states should make use of it,” Opeifa said, adding that Lagos and Plateau States have already started implementing projects aligned with the initiative.

According to him, Ogun and Oyo States already have both narrow and standard gauge lines ready for immediate use, while Edo, Delta, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, and Niger States can easily connect to the existing national network to enhance regional mobility and freight logistics.

Dr. Opeifa also highlighted the NRC’s long-term strategic plan, tagged “Vision 2-5-10-20”, which outlines key milestones for the sector’s transformation. The plan targets a doubling of national rail capacity within 10 years, a transition to electric traction in five years, and an expansion of the rail network to 60,000 kilometers over the next 20 years.

He added that freight services are being expanded nationwide to reduce pressure on the country’s highways and promote more efficient cargo transportation.

The NRC chief emphasized that the new roadmap will serve as a blueprint for integrated national transport planning, ensuring that Nigeria’s rail system becomes a central driver of economic growth, industrialization, and regional trade connectivity.