The Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy, with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking to replace fragmented transport infrastructure with an integrated national network linking roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation.
The policy was unveiled Thursday in Abuja at the 19th National Council on Transportation, held at the National Judicial Institute, Jahi, under the theme, “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation.”
Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Special Adviser on General Duties to the Vice President, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said the policy was central to the Federal Government’s ambition of building a productive and competitive economy.
He said transportation was not merely an infrastructure issue, but a critical link between workers, businesses, markets, families and communities, stressing that an inefficient transport system imposes significant costs on economic activity.
According to him, the administration’s strategy was moving beyond individual transport projects towards a coordinated national system where different modes complement one another.
He said roads must connect railways to production centres and markets, while ports, inland waterways and aviation should be integrated into the network to facilitate the efficient movement of passengers and freight.
“Rail must connect to roads. Rail to production centres and markets, while roads provide first- and last-mile access,” he said.
Shettima’s representative identified the Federal Government’s railway modernisation programme as a key component of the strategy, citing ongoing efforts to improve connectivity across the eastern, central and northern parts of the country.
He also highlighted the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, which connects Kano through Jigawa and Katsina to Maradi in the Republic of Niger, saying it would enhance domestic connectivity, cross-border trade and regional integration.
He said the government was also focused on strengthening the connection between ports, rail and road networks to improve cargo evacuation and reduce pressure on highways.
The Vice President further stressed the need for integrated urban transport systems as Nigerian cities continue to face congestion and inefficient movement.
He urged the Minister of Transportation to work with participating states to establish clear technical, institutional, regulatory and implementation arrangements for approved urban transport projects.
According to him, successful implementation of the projects could provide a model for replication in other cities.
He said the dividends of the policy should ultimately be reflected in shorter commuting times for workers and students, safer journeys, lower transportation costs for families and more efficient movement of goods for traders and businesses.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, described the policy as a historic development, saying it was 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 noted that the policy had been approved by the Federal Executive Council on July 31, 2025, during his tenure as minister, commending the Tinubu administration for creating 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 help ensure that Nigeria’s various transportation modes functioned 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 commenced 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 improving Nigeria’s transport system
