The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said the Kano–Maradi railway line is vital to Nigeria’s food supply chain.
Managing Director Kayode Opeifa made this clear during a recent TV interview. He explained that mobility plays a central role in food security and logistics.
“Mobility is at the center of food security,” he said. “If you take mobility out of logistics and the supply chain, you are just joking.”
Rail Link to Maradi Can Help Feed Nigeria and West Africa
Opeifa explained that the Kano–Maradi rail line was not just about connecting Nigeria to the Niger Republic. The project is part of the African Union Agenda 2063, which encourages coastal nations to link with landlocked neighbors.
“Food security for Nigeria and West Africa, especially in cereal and livestock, is tied to Maradi,” Opeifa noted. “So you can see the reasoning behind linking Kano to Maradi.”
The railway will also ease transportation between major cities across Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna. According to Opeifa, this network will improve the food distribution system by speeding up deliveries and reducing post-harvest losses.
States Can Now Develop Their Own Rail Projects
With the rail system now on the concurrent list, states can create their own railway projects. They can also apply for grants to fund these developments. Opeifa believes this new approach will lead to more connected cities across the country.
“The government now decided to do a new infrastructure map of rail,” he said. “That is to make sure major cities are connected.”
This policy shift allows state governments to support federal railway efforts while tailoring solutions to local transportation needs. New lines are already in the planning phase for different regions.
Communities Help Secure Railway Infrastructure
Opeifa also pointed out that local communities are involved in protecting railway assets. He said people often misunderstand the Kano–Maradi project because they focus only on “Maradi,” without knowing its wider purpose.
“The government is aggressively pursuing this project,” he said. “But a lot of people don’t understand what that really is; what they hear is Maradi.”
The NRC boss believes with community support, new rail developments will be safer and more effective in driving economic and agricultural progress.
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