The Federal Government has inaugurated a multi-agency technical committee to review a proposed $200 billion integrated gas, power, and high-speed rail project, citing the need for due diligence, financial scrutiny, and protection of national interest.
The committee was constituted in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who stated that the scale and strategic importance of the project require a thorough and coordinated evaluation before approval.
The proposed infrastructure project submitted by a consortium led by De-Sadel Nigeria Limited in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited is designed as a multi-phase programme integrating gas development, power generation, and rail transportation.
At its core is the construction of a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network linking key economic corridors including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt.
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The initiative also aims to connect Nigeria’s vast gas reserves estimated at over 200 trillion cubic feet to power generation and rail electrification.
Government officials say the project is expected to:
▪︎ Strengthen energy security by improving gas-to-power supply
▪︎ Transform national transportation through high-speed rail
▪︎ Reduce logistics costs and road congestion
▪︎ Drive industrialisation along rail and energy corridors
▪︎ Position Nigeria as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub
However, authorities insist the proposal must undergo rigorous technical, financial, legal, and environmental assessments. The committee has been mandated to verify proof of funds, examine the financing structure, assess sovereign and contingent risks, and ensure compliance with public-private partnership regulations.
Membership of the committee includes representatives from key ministries Transportation, Petroleum Resources, Finance, Justice, and Environment as well as major institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, EFCC, NFIU, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The government emphasized that while the project has transformative potential, it is “too large and too important” to be rushed, and final decisions will depend on the committee’s evidence-based recommendations.
Source: Nairametrics
