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Why FG Is Building Rail From Nigeria To Niger Republic
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NRC boss says Maradi is vital for cereal and livestock supply chain.
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New rail policy allows states to build lines via development grants.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has defended the federal government’s decision to complete the controversial Kano-Maradi railway project, stating that it is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s food supply chain.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Saturday, Opeifa explained that the Kano-Maradi railway is not just a diplomatic or infrastructural venture but a strategic move to safeguard national and regional food security, especially in cereals and livestock.
“The food security of Nigeria and West Africa is directly linked to Maradi. Once the link is completed to Kano, it becomes easier to distribute food to the rest of Nigeria,” he said.
Referencing the African Union Agenda 2063, Opeifa stated that member countries are encouraged to connect with landlocked neighbours, which often hold untapped economic potential. According to him, mobility remains central to logistics and food security, a fact he believes many Nigerians overlook when criticising the rail project’s link to Niger Republic.
“Mobility is at the heart of food security. Without it, the logistics and supply chain can’t function properly,” he said.
He further explained that the railway line is part of a broader transport network that connects Kano to Kaduna, Abuja, and eventually Lagos, creating a national food distribution corridor that supports both local and regional economies.
Opeifa also addressed public skepticism over the project, saying, “What many people focus on is Maradi because it is outside Nigeria, but they miss the point. The real issue is solving mobility challenges in the food supply chain.”
On the expansion of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure, the NRC boss reiterated the government’s commitment to linking major cities under a new rail development strategy. He noted that the recent constitutional move to place rail transport on the concurrent legislative list now allows states to seek grants and develop their own rail systems.
