By Umar Usman
@ katsina times
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso O. Adebiyi, has said the completion of the Kano–Daura–Katsina–Jibia–Maradi railway project will significantly reduce pressure on roads, minimise traffic congestion and accidents, and boost economic growth.
Adebiyi stated this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 19th National Council on Transportation (NCT) and the unveiling of the National Land Transport Policy (NLTP) at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
The event, themed “Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation,” brought together stakeholders from various transportation sectors across the country.
The Permanent Secretary described transportation as an essential part of human life, noting that Nigeria must effectively integrate air, road, rail and water transportation to achieve sustainable national development.
He said about 98 per cent of Nigerians rely on road transportation, a situation which has contributed to heavy traffic congestion and a high rate of road accidents across highways and major cities.
According to him, the Abuja–Kaduna, Lagos–Ibadan and Itakpe–Ajaokuta–Warri rail lines are already operational, while the completion of the Kano–Daura–Katsina–Jibia–Maradi railway line would further reduce the overdependence on road transportation.
He said the project is expected to be completed by December 2026 and put into operation immediately.
Adebiyi commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the rehabilitation and operation of existing railway services, the construction of new rail lines and the provision of logistics necessary for the continued operation of the sector.
He identified the National Land Transport Policy and the Nigerian Transportation Master Plan as two major instruments designed to guide the development of Nigeria's transportation sector.
According to him, the National Land Transport Policy has received the approval of the Federal Executive Council and is scheduled to be formally unveiled on Thursday, September 3, 2026, by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He explained that the Nigerian Transportation Master Plan serves as a strategic framework for setting the long-term direction of the country's transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders to the success of the event, particularly the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation; and the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology.
In his remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, underscored the importance of transportation to national development.
He said transportation connects people, facilitates the movement of goods and services, integrates markets and drives industrial growth.
“Without an effective, interconnected network, our economic aspirations will remain stagnant,” he said.
Enitan added that Nigeria would require a seamless and multimodal transportation system to achieve the Federal Government's target of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He stressed the need for increased investment in human capital and the professionalisation of the transportation workforce.
The Head of Service charged the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, and the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology to intensify efforts towards building the capacity of transportation professionals across the country.
He thereafter declared the 19th National Council on Transportation open.
In her vote of thanks, the Director of the Rail Transport Services Department at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Habiba Buhari, thanked participants for attending the event.
She particularly appreciated the National Judicial Institute for providing the venue and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for attending and declaring the council open.
At the capacity-building segment of the technical session, contractors handling various transportation projects under the Federal Ministry of Transportation briefed participants on the status of their projects.
Among the contractors were the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), handling the Kaduna–Zaria–Kano rail project, and Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited, handling the Kano–Daura–Katsina–Jibia–Maradi railway project.
The 19th National Council on Transportation is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for developing an integrated and efficient transportation system capable of supporting Nigeria's economic growth and national development.
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