Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy as part of efforts to establish an integrated transportation system connecting roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation.
The policy was unveiled on Thursday September 3 in Abuja at the 19th National Council on Transportation held at the National Judicial Institute, Jahi, with the theme, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation.”
The Special Adviser on General Duties to the Vice President Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar represented Kashim Shettima at the event stating that the policy is central to the administration’s efforts to build a productive and competitive economy.
Umar said transportation was not merely an infrastructure issue but a critical link between workers, businesses, markets, families and communities.
He noted that an inefficient transport system imposes significant costs on economic activities, adding that the government was moving away from isolated transport projects towards a coordinated national system in which different modes complement one another.
“Rail must connect to roads. Rail to production centres and markets, while roads provide first- and last-mile access,” he said.
He identified the Federal Government’s railway modernisation programme as a key component of the strategy, noting ongoing efforts to improve connectivity across the eastern, central and northern parts of the country.
Umar also highlighted the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, which connects Kano through Jigawa and Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic, saying the project would enhance domestic connectivity, cross-border trade and regional integration.
He said the government was also working to strengthen the connection between ports, rail and road networks to improve cargo evacuation and reduce pressure on highways.
The representative of the Vice President stressed the need for integrated urban transport systems as Nigerian cities continue to experience congestion and inefficient movement.
He urged the Minister of Transportation to work with participating states to establish clear technical, institutional, regulatory and implementation frameworks for approved urban transport projects.
According to him, successful implementation of the projects could provide models for replication in other cities.
Umar said the impact of the policy should ultimately be reflected in shorter commuting times for workers and students, safer journeys, lower transportation costs for households and more efficient movement of goods for traders and businesses.
Former Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, described the policy as a historic development and the first comprehensive national land transport policy of its kind.
Alkali said the absence of a comprehensive framework had constrained the Federal Ministry of Transportation’s ability to effectively regulate the sector amid emerging and increasingly complex transportation challenges.
He disclosed that the policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council on July 31, 2025, during his tenure as minister, and commended the Tinubu administration for providing the environment for its development and approval.
He said the policy provides a framework for a fast, safe, efficient, affordable, convenient, integrated and intermodal transport system.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, said the policy would ensure that Nigeria’s various transportation modes operate as components of a single national system.
“Our roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and urban transport systems must connect people and goods efficiently across the country, and increasingly, across our borders,” he said.
Adebiyi cited the operational Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail corridors as evidence of progress towards greater integration, while noting that work was advancing on the Kaduna-Kano segment of the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernisation Project.
The 19th National Council on Transportation, which began on August 31 and ended on September 3, brought together stakeholders from the federal and state governments, transport agencies, the National Assembly and the private sector to deliberate on measures to improve Nigeria’s transport system.
