A rail-led integrated transport system could reduce food prices, lower logistics costs and distribute economic opportunities more widely across Nigeria, according to Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Dr. Femi Ola Aiyegbajeje. He said coordinated rail, road, maritime and air transport networks would improve freight movement, reduce agricultural waste and strengthen national trade. Speaking at the Second Nigeria Transport Summit 2026, he urged policymakers to prioritise connected transport corridors rather than isolated infrastructure projects.
The summit, themed “Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future,” examined strategies for strengthening transportation and economic resilience. Aiyegbajeje argued that making railways the backbone of freight transportation would help Nigeria move large volumes of goods over medium and long distances at lower costs. “Rail-led transport integration is the way to go”.
“I think we will start to gain when we make the railway the major asset of all the leading modes of transportation in the world. It moves a suitable high volume of freight over medium and long distances at little cost,” he said.
Rail-Led Transport Could Lower Food Prices
Aiyegbajeje identified expensive road haulage as a major contributor to the high cost of agricultural produce reaching consumers. He explained that transporting goods from northern production centres to southern markets could cost as much as the produce itself. These expenses eventually increase retail prices and reduce the financial returns farmers receive from their output.
“If we buy tomatoes worth ₦1 million, we are likely to transport them with over ₦1 million. All those charges come to our heads as consumers,” he said.
He maintained that a reliable rail freight network would reduce transportation expenses and connect farmers to larger markets. Consequently, producers could improve their earnings while consumers benefit from more affordable food. Better connections would also help reduce post-harvest losses caused by delays and inefficient distribution.
Railway Network Should Connect Production Centres
The lecturer linked Nigeria’s expensive inland transportation system to the concentration of industries and commercial activities around coastal gateways. Businesses often establish operations close to ports to minimise the cost of moving imported raw materials and finished products. However, this pattern can limit industrial development in inland communities.
He proposed an extensive rail-led network connecting the country’s 774 local government areas, agricultural communities, mineral-producing locations, industrial centres and major markets.
“Imagine that we have a rail-led railway system that connects all the 774 local government areas. Then the activity opportunities will be equally distributed,” he said.
According to Aiyegbajeje, the objective is not to eliminate road transportation but to assign each mode an appropriate role. Railways would handle heavy freight over long distances, while roads would provide flexible collection and last-mile delivery. Maritime transport would move large cargo volumes, while aviation would serve time-sensitive passenger and freight needs.
“The objective is not to replace roads, but to make the transportation of goods predictable and reliable,” he said.
Poor Rail Connectivity Weakens Port Efficiency
Aiyegbajeje also warned that excessive dependence on trucks for cargo evacuation could constrain port operations. Moving large volumes of imported goods through road networks alone can increase congestion around ports and delay deliveries. Rail connections to ports and inland terminals would provide additional capacity for moving freight.
He argued that transport efficiency should be assessed across the entire shipment journey rather than through individual infrastructure assets.
“Transport performance depends on the whole shipment journey, not one load of assets,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that Nigeria’s railway infrastructure remained inadequate for its wider freight transportation requirements. He pointed to connectivity gaps between regions and continuing challenges affecting parts of the older narrow-gauge network. He urged authorities to coordinate new railway projects with ports, industrial clusters, inland terminals and road infrastructure.
Five Dimensions of Transport Integration
Aiyegbajeje highlighted five complementary dimensions of transport integration: physical, operational, institutional, commercial and information coordination. These dimensions would help ensure that infrastructure, services, agencies and cargo-handling arrangements function as one connected system.
Physical integration requires railway lines, roads, ports and terminals to connect effectively. Operational integration involves coordinating schedules, cargo handling and transfers between transport modes. Institutional integration requires cooperation among railway authorities, port operators, customs, security agencies and private transport companies.
Commercial integration would align freight services, pricing and customer requirements across the network. Information integration would support the timely exchange of shipment details, schedules and cargo movement updates.
He stressed that infrastructure investments would deliver limited benefits without coordinated planning and clear responsibilities. He also cited extending urban rail services towards airports as an example of how connecting transport modes could improve accessibility.
“Plan around complete corridors and customer demand,” he said.
Under this approach, agricultural collection points and ports would connect to rail terminals before long-distance transportation. Road services would then complete deliveries to markets, warehouses and other destinations.
Faster Freight Movement Could Reduce Food Waste
The lecturer identified perishable agricultural produce as a major beneficiary of improved rail freight services. Tomatoes, for instance, can deteriorate quickly when transportation delays prevent farmers from reaching markets promptly.
“Tomato, after plucking, has only seven days’ time. Otherwise, it will spoil,” he said.
He argued that dependable freight schedules would help farmers coordinate harvesting with transportation, reduce spoilage and improve market access.
“If you pluck your tomato today and you see a train to move it tonight, within the next 24 hours, the tomato is in my market,” he said.
Faster distribution could increase the quantity of produce reaching consumers while reducing losses suffered by farmers. Moreover, improved access to distant markets could encourage agricultural expansion and strengthen food supply chains.
Security and Investment Remain Critical
Aiyegbajeje said a successful rail-led transport strategy would require sustained investment, effective security and stronger protection for railway infrastructure. Vandalism, theft of railway components and operational disruptions could undermine investments and weaken service reliability.
He called for effective legal safeguards and enforcement to protect railway assets. He also urged policymakers to develop freight corridors around identifiable demand from agriculture, manufacturing, mineral production and containerised cargo.
Ultimately, Aiyegbajeje argued that railway development should not operate as an isolated infrastructure programme. Instead, railways should form the organising backbone of a coordinated national transportation network.
Such rail-led integration, he maintained, could reduce logistics costs, improve food distribution, ease pressure on roads and ports, and spread economic opportunities more evenly across Nigeria.
