Nigeria Invests in Cross-Border Rail to Boost Food Security

Nigeria is expanding its transport infrastructure with a major rail link to Maradi, aiming to secure food supply chains and boost logistics across West Africa. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, explained the importance of the Kano-Maradi railway in supporting regional food movement. He said Maradi plays a vital role in cereal and livestock distribution for Nigeria and its neighbors.

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By connecting Kano to Maradi, Nigeria ensures smoother movement of essential goods from border areas into its internal markets. This helps stabilize supply chains and supports nationwide food distribution.

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 promotes rail links between landlocked and coastal countries. Nigeria’s rail project reflects this strategy by facilitating regional economic integration and agricultural resilience.

Opeifa emphasized that logistics are inseparable from food security. “If you ignore mobility, you weaken your ability to distribute food effectively,” he said. Efficient rail access supports both national and cross-border food logistics.

He added that critics often focus only on the location—Maradi, in another country—without understanding its critical economic role. “People hear ‘Maradi’ and overlook its importance to Nigeria’s food network,” Opeifa said.

Nigeria links rail strategy to food resilience

He highlighted that the new rail line will integrate Kano with Kaduna, Abuja, and Lagos. This connection will improve domestic transportation while supporting long-distance logistics.

Opeifa also noted that the federal government is mapping out new city-to-city rail corridors, creating a comprehensive national rail strategy. These efforts aim to stimulate economic growth through better connectivity.

Nigeria empowers states with rail development authority

With rail development now part of the concurrent legislative list, Nigerian states can apply for funding and independently develop local rail lines. This shift allows greater flexibility in infrastructure planning.

The Kano-Maradi project, therefore, is more than a symbolic link—it’s part of Nigeria’s larger push to modernize logistics, ensure food access, and align with continental development goals.

Source, photo: www.naijanews.com

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