Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum plans to build an intra-city rail system linking Maiduguri with surrounding areas. This marks the first project initiated by any of Nigeria’s 19 northern state governments.
The scheme’s initial phase will feature 12 designated terminals throughout Maiduguri, connecting key markets, educational institutions, public facilities, and economically significant locations.
This initiative, which has the potential to expand to cover local government areas in the future, will enable the smooth transportation of passengers and goods, thereby enhancing economic activities and corridors within the state.
During a site inspection of the proposed rail terminals and routes alongside the execution partner, Eighteenth Engineering Company (EEC), Aliyu Mohammed Bamanga, Borno’s Commissioner for Transport and Energy, said that feasibility studies, environmental risk assessments (ERA), and community consultations are in progress to guarantee the successful execution of this groundbreaking project.
The commissioner also added that the project will improve transportation, boost the economy, create job opportunities, and transform the city’s transportation infrastructure upon completion.
Zulum’s visionary intra-city rail initiative will provide residents with an alternative, cost-effective transportation solution, promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. It will also complement ongoing transport infrastructure developments, including the 113-kilometre expansion of Maiduguri’s East, West, and South ring roads, which will connect low-cost communities Auno, Molai, Polo, and Shagari.
Previously, Zulum’s administration launched electric and gas-powered taxis and buses at subsidised rates for Maiduguri residents to alleviate the impact of rising transportation and living expenses following the removal of fuel subsidies.
He has also undertaken numerous urban and rural infrastructure initiatives throughout the state. Zulum’s dedication to infrastructure advancement in Borno is part of a broader effort to restore peace and prosperity in the region after the consequences of more than a decade of Boko Haram insurgency.
