Headlines

Exclusive! FG plans massive rail connection to seaports in Nigeria– Opeifa

— Lekki Deep Sea Port to be connected to Lagos -Kano line

Funso OLOJO

The Federal government of Nigeria has concluded plans to connect all the sea ports in the country to rail lines in a bid to facilitate seamless movement of goods in and out of the ports.

This ambitious rail connectivity is part of the larger National Rail line programme that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is billed to unveil on or before October 1st, 2025.

Making this revelation on Thursday, August 7th, 2025 was the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa when he appeared on a live broadcast programme on a popular Television station in Abuja.

Opeifa, who was speaking on the efforts of government to revitalize rail transport in the country, disclosed that the plan of President Tinubu is to connect all the towns and cities as well as all the ports to rail lines under the National Rail line programme.

On the issue of Port connectivity to the rail lines, Opeifa stated that the plan, which has commenced in Apapa port at the PTML Terminal,will soon be extended to Tin Can Port, Onne port, Port- Hacourt port and Warri Port.

“There is also a plan to connect all the seaports in Nigeria.

“So you have a situation where

the plan is to connect Apapa Port to Lagos Port.

“The train currently gets to Lagos Port, which is both on narrow gauge and standard gauge but the main container terminal at the Tin Can Port, will eventually get connected.

“Same way, the Warri Port will be connected to Warri on the Central line, that is Warri Port to Warri Town, that will take you to Itakpe, and eventually a connection to Abuja.

“The same way we are having the Port Hacourt line,the narrow gauge, is going to be extended back to Onne Port, and

Port Harcourt which is already at

Aba.

“Like I said, we’ll move to Umuahia ,Enugu and then Uyo.

“Then there is also a plan to connect the Lekki deep sea Port to the Lagos-Kano line via Kajola.

“And there is also a plan to take some from the Lekki deep sea Port, which is to be connected to the Lagos-Kano line, eventually going to Benni, Onitsha, Enugu, and the rest on the standard route.

“And you saw recently, there was a borrowing plan approved by the National Assembly for some of these lines.

“So the plan is extensive, and like I said, before October 1st, the President will eventually unveil the national rail plan for the ports.

“So we have what we call the Vision 5, 10, 20, 30.

“That is what we’ll do in the first five years, how we transit to renewable energy in the first five years to ten

years when we start going electric.

“And then the issue of fast train is also on the table in the five to ten year program.

“So it’s a massive program, and it will soon be unveiled” Opeifa enthused.

On the plan to connect all the towns and cities in the country, the NRC boss disclosed that the programme is tied to the expansion of the ongoing rail modernisation plan on the standard gauge.

“There is a plan to connect major cities of this country, and we have seen that with Jos.

“Now, there is also a plan to expand the ongoing rail modernization plan on the Standard gauge.

“Very soon, before, most likely before October 1, there will be unveiling of many of the other new lines that are coming up.

“But I can tell you for sure that I see large connections to many towns and cities.

“There is the Regional Development Commission, too.

“They are also working on that plan.

What we are doing is integrating all these plans with the National Rail Corridor.

“There is the Western Line. So let me go first on the Western Line, Lagos to Kano. That is narrow gauge.

“There is also Lagos to Kano. That is the Standard gauge. So right now, the Minister of Transportation mentioned recently in Kaduna how far we are going on the Kano-Kaduna line and how far we are going on the Kano-Maradi line.

“So what you see is that Abuja-Kaduna will now be linked to Abuja-Kano within the next 12 months to 24 months.

“And we are now moving from ibadan to Oshogbo and possibly to Oyo, and then we’ll move to Oyo to Oshogbo, then we’ll move to Ilorin.

“Or we move from Oyo to Oshogbo, then we move to Ilorin.

“On the Eastern plan, we are moving from Aba to Enugu and from Aba to Umuahia and Umuahia to Enugu.

“And subsequently, we’ll move from there to Makurdi to Lafia and then we’ll move up to Maiduguri” declared Opeifa.

He said the plan is an ambitious one which will gulp a lot of money but which the government is determined to pursue to give the people the dividends of democracy.

Headlines

Tompolo pays glowing tribute to Wike on his 58th birthday.

Funso OLOJO

High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has eulogised the uncommon courage, resilience and unwavering sense of duty of Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory(FCT), describing these attributes as those that align with the Tantita’s objectives and work ethic.

Tompolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, make this observation in his message to Wike on his 58th birthday, where he paid a glowing tribute to the FCT Minister.

According to him, Wike’s public life is a reflection of courage, conviction and an unwavering sense of duty.

Tompolo said Wike’s journey through public service—marked by legal brilliance, political audacity and firm decision-making—has consistently demonstrated that true leadership is defined by impact, not rhetoric.

He noted that from Wike’s formative years in public administration through his tenure as Governor of Rivers State and now as FCT Minister, his performance has remained anchored on results, resilience and a relentless commitment to public good.

“In the Federal Capital Territory, your presence is already being massively felt.

” The renewed focus on infrastructure, order, and accountability speaks to a hands-on leadership style that understands Abuja’s symbolic and practical importance to Nigeria’s unity and governance,” Tompolo said.

The TSSNL founder commended Wike for recognising the intrinsic connection between security, development and national stability, stressing that the minister’s insistence on law, order and institutional discipline aligns strongly with Tantita’s mission of protecting critical assets and fostering a safe environment for sustainable growth.

He added that Wike’s reputation as “Mr. Project” was well-earned, given his consistent record of performance and the courage to take difficult decisions when duty demanded it.

“In moments that demand firmness, you have chosen responsibility over convenience, standing by your convictions even when the path was difficult,” he said.

Tompolo prayed for renewed strength, sharper vision and continued success for the minister as he marks another year, expressing confidence that Wike’s service would continue to leave a lasting imprint on national development.

“Please accept my sincere best wishes for good health, wisdom, and continued success. May the years ahead bring fulfilment and further contributions to the progress and unity of Nigeria,” he added.

Headlines

Nigeria denies ownership of detained vessel

VLCC SKIPPER

Funso OLOJO

The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has clarified the status of a tanker vessel, MT SKIPPER, currently intercepted and detained by the United States Coast Guard(USCG) over alleged oil theft and other transnational crimes.

According to the statement from the Nigeria’s maritime industry apex regulatory agency, the vessel , Very Large Crude Carrier,is not a Nigerian – flagged vessel while its purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.

“An analysis of the vessel’s movement, monitored through the Agency’s Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre, shows that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on 1st July 2024.

“After departing Nigerian waters, the vessel continued on its international voyage pattern and was tracked operating in the Arabian Sea (Asia) and later in the Caribbean region, where the U.S. interdiction eventually took place.

“Records indicate that SKIPPER which was formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp, has undergone multiple name changes over time.

“The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, in the ongoing investigations. He emphasized that criminality will not be tolerated in Nigerian waters” NIMASA stated in a public statement.

Headlines

Adeniyi, Akutah, Fakolade, Warredi, Maiwada headline 10th anniversary of seminar for maritime journalists in Lagos

Funso OLOJO

First Mediacon media group, the convener of the annual seminar for maritime journalists, has lined up an array of industry’s stakeholders to sharpen the intellectual capacity of maritime journalists at this year’s workshop.

The annual event, which is the 10th edition this year, holds December 17th, 2025 in Lagos.

According to the organisers of the programme, the cream of the maritime industry have been lined up to engage the industry’s media in intellectual discussions that will deepen the knowledge of its practitioners in digital trade facilitation, regulatory efficiency and the economic reforms.

Key speakers at the event include the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Akutah Ukeyima who is expected to deliver the keynote address, Mr Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window, Mr Warredi Eniosuoh, who is expected to chair the event and Deputy Comptroller of Customs and the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.

Maiwada is expected to deliver a practical training on “Data Analysis for Effective Maritime Reporting”

According to Mr. Sesan Onileimo, CEO of First Mediacon Network Limited and convener of the seminar, “the past decade has proven that accurate, data-driven journalism is vital to the growth of the maritime economy.

“This platform empowers journalists with the tools to properly analyse reforms, interrogate investments and provide the business community with credible information.”

Now in its tenth year, the seminar has become a major business intelligence platform, equipping maritime journalists with the technical insight required to analyse policy decisions, market trends and operational performance within the nation’s blue economy.

Over the years, it has helped strengthen the information value chain that supports investment decisions across ports, logistics, shipping, and inland trade corridors.

This year’s edition comes at a time when Nigeria’s maritime economy is undergoing significant transformation, driven by digitalisation, regulatory restructuring and demand for greater operational transparency.

Marking a decade of consistent impact, the organisers reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the professional capacity of the maritime media, while promoting a more transparent, efficient and investment-friendly maritime environment.