Federal Government Unveils National Land Transport Policy and Major Infrastructure Initiative

The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive plan to construct modern bus terminals and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The initiative follows the recent approval of the country’s first-ever National Land Transport Policy by the Federal Executive Council.

Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, made the disclosure in Abuja, emphasizing the policy’s role in strengthening Africa’s most utilized transport mode. He described the land transport sector as both heavily burdened and rich with untapped potential, noting that the newly adopted framework will provide much-needed structure and drive sustainable development.

As part of this effort, the government has approved the construction of six bus terminals, one per geopolitical zone, selected for their economic viability. These facilities will include integrated CNG refueling stations and enhanced security infrastructure to address issues such as drug abuse, a leading contributor to road accidents. Minister Alkali also confirmed that passenger manifests will be mandatory for all buses departing from the terminals, whether publicly or privately operated, to improve accountability and safety.

In parallel, the Ministry highlighted significant progress in rail infrastructure, including the operationalization of the Eastern Narrow Gauge corridor from Port Harcourt to Aba and ongoing efforts to complete the Kaduna – Kano line by late 2025. Track laying is already underway on the Kano – Katsina route, including a branch line to Jigawa State.

Alkali reaffirmed that transportation serves as a gateway to national economic growth, directly impacting citizens’ livelihoods and supporting broader development objectives. The Ministry plans to engage the World Bank for further development of the terminal projects, marking a new chapter in federal transport planning.