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ABUJA – The Kano-Maradi Railway project is not just about laying tracks; it’s a strategic move for Nigeria’s food security, according to Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). He emphasized that connecting Nigeria with the Niger Republic by rail is essential due to the vital role mobility plays in getting food where it needs to go.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise program, Opeifa shed light on the bigger picture. “According to AU 2063, African countries are encouraged to link with landlocked countries because there is potential in those countries,” he explained. He elaborated further, stating, “From the literature I’ve read, the food security for Nigeria and West Africa in cereal and livestock is tied to Maradi.” Opeifa made it clear that without efficient movement, the entire food supply chain is at risk. “When you take mobility out of logistics and supply chain, you are just joking,” he asserted. The Kano-Maradi Railway is designed to be a powerful engine for this crucial mobility.
Kano-Maradi Railway: More Than Just a Cross-Border Link
Opeifa clarified that the Kano-Maradi Railway is far more than an international connection. It serves as a vital piece of Nigeria’s own expanding domestic rail network, which already links Kano to Kaduna, Abuja, and down to Lagos. “Mobility is at the centre of food security, and that’s what the Kano-Maradi, which will now be Kano to Kaduna, Kaduna to Abuja, Abuja to Lagos, will represent,” he detailed.
The Federal Government, he revealed, is rolling out a new infrastructure master plan. This ambitious plan aims to weave together Nigeria’s major cities with rail lines, boosting both national cohesion and economic horsepower. The ultimate aim, Opeifa said, is “to make sure major cities are connected,” highlighting a long-term vision for internal development and movement where the Kano-Maradi Railway plays a key role.
States Empowered, Communities Engaged
A significant development, the NRC boss pointed out, is the recent shift of rail infrastructure to the concurrent legislative list. This change empowers individual states to seek grants and kickstart their own rail projects. Opeifa sees this as a positive step, opening doors for more localized development and decentralization of infrastructure efforts.
He also stressed the importance of involving local communities in protecting rail infrastructure, recognizing that public buy-in is crucial for the long-term success of the sector. “Now, the government is also aggressively pursuing. The Kano-Maradi, a lot of people don’t understand what that really is; what they hear is Maradi,” Opeifa remarked, underscoring the wider national benefits and strategic thinking driving the project beyond just the destination city.
By Kayode Ojo
