The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level technical committee to assess a proposed $200 billion integrated high-speed rail, power, and gas infrastructure project submitted by De Sadel (Nig.) Limited in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who said the project is too large and complex to be approved without thorough evaluation.
He explained during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja that the initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at transforming transport connectivity, improving energy supply, and expanding industrial capacity across Nigeria.
According to him, the proposed project envisions a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network linking major corridors including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, alongside integrated gas and power infrastructure.
“These kinds of projects have the potential to transform Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth and deepen national integration,” he said, while stressing the need for detailed scrutiny.
The multi-agency committee includes representatives from key institutions such as the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Finance, Justice, Petroleum Resources, and Environment, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria, EFCC, NFIU, ONSA, NIA, and the Debt Management Office.
The committee was mandated to verify proof of funds, assess financial and sovereign risk exposure, and review the technical and environmental viability of the proposal.
The committee is expected to review and also examine the integrated oil-and-gas financing structure, proposed asset divestments, and compliance with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) regulations.
The project proponents claim the rail system could operate at speeds of up to 350 km/h, significantly reducing travel time between major cities, including Lagos–Abuja in about two and a half hours.
Managing Director of De Sadel Nigeria Limited, Samuel Ukoh, described the project as a transformational infrastructure plan that could reshape national logistics and industrial development.
He said during a project briefing in Abuja that the first phase would focus on a 1,700-kilometre corridor connecting Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, covering over 20 states.
The Federal Government said the technical committee would submit recommendations after completing a full financial, legal, environmental, and engineering assessment before any final decision is made.
