Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has highlighted how the country's vast gas reserves can power the upcoming 4,000km high-speed rail network, creating new opportunities for trade, industrial growth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking at the International Railway Conference 2025 in Abuja, Ekpo explained that the project, with trains designed to run at 350 km/h, will not only transform transportation but also open new economic corridors where SMEs can thrive. He noted that with over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Nigeria is shifting from oil dependence to a gas-driven economy under the Decade of Gas Initiative.
According to Ekpo, gas provides a sustainable and affordable energy solution for powering railway infrastructure. Beyond fuelling trains, expanding gas-to-power projects will deliver reliable electricity to railway stations, industrial hubs, and urban centres, reducing costs for businesses. SMEs stand to benefit from cheaper logistics, cleaner transport options such as LNG and CNG, and increased access to energy for production.
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He added that the high-speed rail will serve as a backbone for gas-based industries like fertiliser, petrochemicals, and methanol, while also supporting clusters of SMEs in agro-processing, manufacturing, and logistics along the rail routes. By linking Nigeria's industries to regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), SMEs will gain wider access to customers across West and Central Africa.
Ekpo stressed that this strategy aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at industrialisation, job creation, and poverty reduction—goals where SMEs are expected to play a central role.
