The Federal Government has earmarked $3 billion for the completion of the Eastern Rail Projects, the Minister of Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, has announced.

Speaking at the 5th Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Stakeholders’ Summit held in Abuja, Alkali said the allocation was part of the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) renewed commitment to modernize Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.

He noted that the Eastern Rail line, which runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, remains a critical national asset linking major economic zones in the South East, South South, and North East regions. The minister assured that the new funding would accelerate work on the project and ensure timely completion.

Alkali further revealed that other ongoing projects such as the Kano–Katsina–Maradi and Kaduna–Kano standard gauge rail lines are also receiving strong government attention, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on transport and infrastructure development.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s transport and logistics infrastructure must be designed to be smart, inclusive, and sustainable to support long-term national growth and integration.

The summit, themed “Building Sustainable Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Nigeria: Current Trends and Future Insights,” brought together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to explore innovative solutions for advancing the country’s transportation system.