The Federal Ministry of Transportation has rejected assertions of an upcoming launch of a Lagos-Abuja high-speed bullet train, describing the reports as inaccurate and deceptive.
In a statement released in Abuja, the ministry explained that the commonly reported claims about a bullet train cutting travel time between Lagos and Abuja from 12 hours to only two to three hours were unfounded.
The ministry refuted statements made by Director of Operations at Geofocus Consortium, Yinka Idris, who had claimed that the project was set to commence.
“It is pertinent to note that the proponent of the story, Geofocus Consortium, held a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Transportation in 2016 to discuss the unsolicited proposal to build a bullet train from Lagos to Abuja under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with 100% financing by the proponent,” the ministry explained.
According to the government, in 2024, the company’s Outline Business Case (OBC) was forwarded to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for due diligence.
However, ICRC demanded documentation of financial backing from the company’s lenders, which has yet to be delivered.
“The company is aware that the ICRC has not granted approval on the OBC with particular reference to the proof of funds, which is necessary to proceed for submission of the Full Business Case (FBC).
“It should be noted that only when these requirements are met can a memo be sent to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
“Hence, the claim that feasibility studies are completed and proof of funds has been secured is just in the imagination of the company, as it is yet to fulfill the necessary requirements,” the statement read.
The ministry urged Geofocus Consortium to issue a public apology for spreading misleading information.
Additionally, it called on news platforms to verify their reports before publication to prevent the spread of false information.
“The ministry, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, remains committed to delivering on its mandate and advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the transportation sector,” the statement added.
The ministry also emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration to drive progress in the sector.
