By Obiabin Onukwugha
The federal governmenr has inaugurated a technical committee to review a proposed $200bn integrated gas, power and high-speed rail project aimed at transforming Nigeria’s infrastructure.
The project, expected to boost energy security, cut travel time by 75% and drive economic growth, has a multi-phase plan that includes a 4,000km rail network linking key cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, alongside energy development.
Inaugurating the committee which draws its membership from key ministries, in Abuja on Thursday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the committee is tasked with “assessing technical, legal and environmental aspects, verifying claims and ensuring due diligence.”
He said the committee will evaluate the credibility of the proposal submitted by a consortium led by De-Sadel Nigeria Limited in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited.
“Project of this magnitude must therefore be carefully evaluated to ensure that they align with national priorities, are technically sound, financially viable and fully compliant with Nigeria’s legal and regulatory frameworks,” he said..
He added that the panel will also examine the financing model, competence of technical partners, regulatory compliance, and potential security and financial risks associated with the project.
“The terms of reference of this committee are: financial verification and proof of funds, coordinated multi-agency verification of all financial documents submitted to validate the authenticity, sufficiency, source and conditions for drawdown of proposed funds.
“Consolidate observations from security and financial intelligence agencies; to identify potential national security, financial crime and reputational risk, and recommend mitigation measures and conditionalities for project advancement,” he said.
Presenting an overview of the proposal, Managing Director of De-Sadel Consortium, Samuel Ukoh, described the project as a transformative infrastructure initiative capable of redefining Nigeria’s economic landscape.
He said the full plan includes a nationwide 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network across all states and the Federal Capital Territory, supported by integrated power generation, gas supply systems, fibre optic infrastructure and real estate developments around major stations.a
Ukoh also disclosed that the first phase will cover “a 1,700-kilometre corridor linking Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, with trains expected to operate at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour, cutting travel time between Lagos and Abuja to about two hours and 30 minutes.”
He further informed that the initial phase will generate about 3,500 megawatts of electricity to power the rail system, while the entire project is projected to deliver up to 8,500 megawatts.
Umoh added that the consortium is proposing an elevated bridge design for the rail infrastructure, which will also support electricity transmission lines and fibre optic cables, enabling integrated deployment of transport, power and digital connectivity.
