Highway and transportation engineers have called for an integrated transport network linking roads, rail, inland waterways, seaports, dry ports and airports to accelerate Nigeria’s economic diversification.

They said an efficient multimodal transportation system, in which different modes complement one another, would reduce logistics costs, improve the movement of people and goods, strengthen domestic trade and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.

The experts spoke at the Eko 2026 Conference, Annual General Meeting and Conferment of Fellowship Ceremony organised by the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), in Lagos.

The conference was themed, “Diversifying Nigeria’s Economy Through Strategic Transportation Links.”
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, represented by Bolaji Bada, said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful economic diversification without diversifying its transportation network.

Osiyemi noted that the country’s transport system had been carrying an economic burden that no single mode should bear alone, stressing that overdependence on highways for passenger and freight movement had worsened congestion, accelerated pavement deterioration, increased logistics costs and contributed to road crashes.

“A diversified economy requires a diversified transport network. Roads must connect intelligently with rail, inland waterways, seaports, dry ports, airports, industrial parks, agricultural belts and urban transit systems,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Osiyemi said road transport currently accounted for roughly 90 per cent of passenger and freight movement in Nigeria. He added that the country’s road network was commonly estimated at about 200,000 kilometres, with only about 30 per cent paved.

According to him, such heavy dependence on roads places enormous pressure on highways, increases maintenance requirements and underscores the limitations of relying on road-only solutions to the country’s logistics challenges.
On rail transportation, the commissioner said the system remained underdeveloped relative to the needs of a continental-scale economy, noting that rail accounted for less than one per cent of the transportation industry’s contribution to GDP in 2023, according to a report he cited.

He, however, noted that the economic value of rail would be maximised when it was connected to other modes of transportation.

“Where rail links are operational or being expanded, such as strategic links to ports, inland terminals and major cities, the economic value comes not from rail alone, but from rail connected to roads, ports, warehouses, industrial estates and distribution networks,” he said.

Osiyemi also called for improved port evacuation systems, inland dry ports, inland waterways, truck parks, freight villages and digital cargo systems to reduce delays and improve productivity.

He cited the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway and its connection to Apapa Port, as well as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, as practical examples of intermodal transportation in the country.
He added that urban rail and mass-transit integration, including the Lagos Blue Line, bus reforms, ferry services and terminal planning, should be strengthened and replicated where appropriate across major cities and economic corridors.

According to him, every major city and economic corridor should ultimately have a connected mobility and logistics ecosystem capable of supporting production, trade and investment.

Osiyemi said NIHTE had a critical role to play in driving the transition, given its pool of professionals with expertise in transportation design, safety, operations, asset management, policy and implementation.

“NIHTE can help Nigeria develop corridor standards, promote research, strengthen professional competence, advise government, support subnational transport planning, and champion the integration of road systems with rail, maritime, aviation and urban mobility,” he said.

He urged engineers to move beyond discussions about individual projects and focus on measurable national outcomes, stressing that Nigeria could not diversify its economy beyond oil while continuing to rely on fragmented infrastructure.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, represented by Engr. Dayo Oluyemi, described the conference as timely, saying transportation remained central to Nigeria’s development.
He said an efficient transportation network could unlock economic opportunities across the country by connecting producers to markets, industries to raw materials, communities to opportunities and Nigeria to the global economy.

“Transportation, as we all know, is the lifeblood of economic activity. An efficient transportation network connects producers to markets, industries to raw materials, communities to opportunities and Nigeria to the global economy. It facilitates trade, stimulates investment, strengthens regional integration and creates the infrastructure upon which sustainable economic diversification can be built,” he said.

Rabiu said Nigeria must deliberately invest in modern, resilient and interconnected transportation infrastructure to broaden its economic base, reduce overdependence on traditional sources of revenue and unlock the productive potential of its human and material resources.

The Immediate Past Chairman of the NSE, Lagos Branch, Engr. Olukorede Kesha, also called for sustainable practices in transportation infrastructure development.

She said engineers must prioritise modern infrastructure capable of withstanding climate impacts and supporting a growing population rather than relying on unsustainable and high-polluting methods.

“Sustainability is not an environmental add-on. It is a discipline that ensures the intentional design and management of infrastructure that delivers long-term value, advances equity, reduces climate and fiscal risk, strengthens economic performance and preserves resources for future generations,” she said.

The Acting National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Bola Mudasiru, said an efficient intermodal transport system could transform Nigeria’s economic value chain, particularly agricultural supply chains, by reducing freight costs, supporting export competitiveness and attracting private investment.

“It is particularly vital to Nigeria’s diversification agenda: farmers cannot benefit from increased production if produce cannot reach markets; manufacturers cannot compete if supply chains remain inefficient; exporters cannot thrive without reliable inland and coastal connections,” he said.

Mudasiru urged engineers, policymakers, investors and other stakeholders to move beyond diagnosing the country’s transportation challenges and commit to practical, evidence-based and financially viable solutions.

“Let our collective resolve at EKO 2026 be to transform policy into measurable delivery, isolated projects into coordinated networks, and transportation infrastructure into a powerful instrument for economic diversification, competitiveness and national prosperity,” he said.