Transport Ministry Defends N225.7bn Budget To Advance Sector

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has defended its proposed N225.7 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year before the National Assembly’s Joint Committees on Land Transport.

Speaking at the session in Abuja, the minister of transportation, Said Alkali, emphasised the ministry’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure to support economic growth.

The proposed budget, Alkali explained, aims to consolidate the progress made under the 2024 Appropriation Act while aligning with the mission of the current administration.

“This budget will sustain the momentum in rail modernization projects and improve other land transport modes to drive economic development,” Alkali said.

The minister highlighted the challenges of securing counterpart funding through loans and appealed to the National Assembly for increased financial support.

He underscored transportation’s critical role as an economic enabler, calling for robust investment to ensure the completion of ongoing projects and the commencement of new ones.

Alkali detailed key accomplishments under the 2024 budget, including the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Kano narrow gauge rail line, which now facilitates freight movement from Lagos Port to the Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano.

The recently commissioned 62km rail corridor from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Aba in Abia State was also noted as a significant step in linking Eastern Ports to the hinterland.

As part of efforts to address the impact of petrol subsidy removal, the ministry, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), distributed 15 CNG-powered buses to transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

“These buses represent the government’s commitment to easing transportation challenges while transitioning to a cleaner energy economy,” Alkali said.

The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology is also supporting this initiative by establishing CNG Conversion and Training Centers in Abuja, Zaria, Enugu, Borno, and Kogi States, with plans to expand to all 36 states.

Chairman of the Joint Senate and House Committees on Land Transport, Mohammed Adamu Aliero, commended the ministry’s efforts, emphasising that the nation’s development relies heavily on efficient transportation systems.

He urged continued focus on rail development to reduce pressure on the country’s road networks.

He said that the ministry’s proposals reaffirm its determination to modernise Nigeria’s transportation sector and enhance its role as a driver of sustainable economic growth.