Nigeria To Harness Gas Reserves For 4,000km High-Speed Rail Network
By MELVIN KOFFA
NIGERIA’S vast natural gas reserves will play a central role in powering the country’s ambitious 4,000km high-speed rail project, capable of reaching speeds up to 350 km/h, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Speaking at the International Railway Conference 2025 in Abuja, Ekpo described the project as a game-changer for connectivity, industrial growth, and regional trade. He stressed that gas, long underutilized, has now become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy and industrial strategy under President Bola Tinubu’s Decade of Gas Initiative.
With proven reserves of 210 trillion cubic feet—and potential reserves of 600 trillion cubic feet—Ekpo said natural gas offers a reliable, affordable, and cleaner alternative for powering rail systems. It will support electricity supply for rail stations, cities, and industrial hubs, while its conversion into fuels such as LNG and Gas-to-Liquids will lower carbon emissions from transport.
“The high-speed rail will open new economic corridors where gas-based industries—fertilizer, petrochemicals, methanol, and CNG hubs—can thrive. These cities will grow into industrial clusters linked by rail,” Ekpo stated.
He added that through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), gas-powered industries and the rail network would reinforce Nigeria’s role as a regional leader in energy and manufacturing.
The minister emphasized that the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to industrialize Nigeria, generate jobs, and lift millions out of poverty through sustainable energy and infrastructure.
