The Federal Government is preparing to commence construction on a Lagos-Abuja Super Highway and High-Speed Train Project, scheduled to begin in February 2025.
The massive infrastructure initiative, estimated to cost $16 billion, will connect eight territories across Nigeria through a 500-kilometre corridor linking Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Director of Operations at AEC-Geofocus, Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, revealed details of the project during a media briefing in Ibadan. The consortium, which comprises engineers, planners, and investors, will oversee the project under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) model.
The high-speed rail component will feature a dual-gauge line of up to 250 kilometres per hour, with main terminals in Lagos and Abuja and 11 intermediate stations. The project aims to dramatically reduce travel times, with rail journeys between Lagos and Abuja expected to take less than three hours, while road travel will be cut to under five hours.
“This development is expected to reduce travel time between Lagos and Abuja to under three hours by rail and less than five hours by road,” Engineer Idris said, noting its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure development agenda. “The citizens’ economic prosperity will undoubtedly flourish through these strategic initiatives aimed at improving living standards under the current administration.”
According to Idris, the highway will consist of eight lanes, two service lanes, and 13 tolling points. Encompassed within the project scope are 10 smart cities, one million housing units, and an independent power plant. The initiative is expected to create significant employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth along the transportation corridor.
Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2025.
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