The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $45.3 million contract for a comprehensive feasibility study and engineering design aimed at establishing a new transportation route connecting four major seaports in the western region of Nigeria.
The approval was announced on Monday by the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, during a press briefing after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, the proposed transportation corridor will link the Badagry Deep Seaport to Tincan Island Port, Tincan to Apapa Port, Lekki Seaport to Ijebu-Ode, and then extend to Kajola, where it will connect with the Lagos-Kano-Maradi Railway Modernization Project.
Alkali emphasized that the initiative aligns with the administration’s priority of enhancing transportation infrastructure to boost economic development. He noted that by creating direct connections between the seaports and the hinterland, the project will facilitate trade, increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and stimulate economic activities across various sectors.
“Transportation is one of the key priority areas of President Tinubu’s administration as it serves as a vital enabler of economic growth. The Federal Executive Council has granted approval for a detailed feasibility study and engineering design of a proposed route alignment linking the western seaports to the hinterland,” Alkali stated.
The minister further explained that, currently, only the Apapa Port is connected to the national rail network via the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line, which facilitates freight movement from Lagos to Ibadan. Additionally, the old narrow-gauge railway has been rehabilitated and is being utilized for freight services between Lagos and Kano.
With the planned expansion, all four western seaports will have direct rail connectivity, significantly improving logistics and reducing congestion at Lagos ports. This, Alkali said, would enhance Nigeria’s trade efficiency and position the country as a stronger player in the global supply chain.
“Once we successfully link all the four western corridor seaports to the hinterland, we will witness a substantial boost in GDP and economic activity. The feasibility study and engineering design contract has been awarded at a total cost of $45,303,000,” he added.
The project is expected to address critical bottlenecks in Nigeria’s transport sector, ensuring seamless movement of goods and services while strengthening the integration of key maritime and railway infrastructure.
This move underscores the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth by modernizing transport systems and enhancing connectivity between ports and inland commercial hubs.
