Abuja: The Federal Government has inaugurated a Technical Committee to review proposals for a 4,000-kilometre integrated gas power and high-speed rail project aimed at linking major economic corridors across the country. The project, set to be executed under the regulatory guidance of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, will extend across all 36 states of the federation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the project will be managed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, inaugurated the committee in Abuja. He stated that the project would connect key cities including Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Port Harcourt. The proposal, submitted by a consortium led by DE-SADEL Consortium Nigeria Ltd., in partnership with China Lansay Petroleum Investment Holdings Ltd., is estimated at 200 billion dollars.
The project is designed as a multi-phase program integrating gas development, power generation, and transmission, alongside the construction of a nationwide high-speed rail network. Akume highlighted the project’s potential to transform Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth, and deepen national integration. This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes infrastructure development, energy security, economic diversification, and job creation.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive technical review to ensure the project’s alignment with national priorities and its technical, financial, and legal viability. Inputs from security, financial intelligence, and regulatory agencies stressed the need for a coordinated inter-agency assessment of the proposal.
The committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Office within the Office of the SGF, includes representatives from key ministries, departments, and agencies such as transportation, petroleum resources, finance, justice, and environment. Other members include the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The committee’s terms of reference include verification of funding sources, review of the proposed financing model, and assessment of the technical capacity of the project proponents. It will also examine regulatory compliance, PPP frameworks, and potential security and reputational risks, and is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide the government’s decision on the project.
Akume urged the members to carry out their assignment with professionalism, objectivity, and diligence, and to submit their report within the stipulated time frame. He officially inaugurated the Technical Committee to review the proposal for the Integrated Gas-Powered High-Speed Rail Project.
Mr. Samuel Uko, Chief Executive Officer of DE-SADEL Consortium, stated that the project would cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The rail network’s initial phase is approximately 1,700 kilometres, connecting Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt. Trains are expected to operate at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour, reducing travel time between Lagos and Abuja to about two and a half hours. The project will also incorporate power generation, gas development, fibre-optic infrastructure, and other components to support operations. It is projected to boost electricity generation and create over two million jobs for Nigerians. The consortium has secured several regulatory approvals and is engaging relevant stakeholders to achieve financial close and commence implementation.