The 2025 national budget, recently passed by the National Assembly, includes a new allocation of N400 billion for light rail projects in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, and Ogun states.
An analysis by TheCable reveals that the funds were not part of the original N49.74 trillion budget President Bola Tinubu presented on December 18, 2024. The budget was later adjusted to N54.27 trillion after an additional request of N4.53 trillion by the President on February 5. However, the National Assembly further increased it to N54.99 trillion, adding N719.5 billion, which included the unexpected light rail allocation.
Breakdown of the Rail Project Allocation
The N400 billion earmarked for the new rail projects will be distributed as follows:
- Kano State – N150 billion
- Kaduna State – N100 billion
- Ogun State – N100 billion
- Lagos State – N50 billion
This allocation is separate from the N146.14 billion already designated for Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1, bringing Lagos’ total rail funding in the budget to N196.14 billion.
Controversy Over Regional Allocation
It remains unclear whether this funding is a loan or grant, and if similar allocations will be extended to other states in the future. However, the project heavily favors the North-West (Kano, Kaduna) and South-West (Lagos, Ogun), raising concerns about regional bias.
Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central (Labour Party) criticized the exclusion of the South-East and neighboring zones from federal rail projects. Umeh had previously led a motion—co-sponsored by 35 senators—to advocate for a standard gauge railway from Port Harcourt through Aba and Makurdi to Maiduguri, but the project was omitted from the final budget.
Despite raising a point of order in the Senate to reconsider the Eastern Rail Line, Umeh’s appeal was unsuccessful, further fueling concerns of marginalization in federal infrastructure planning.
