The Federal Ministry of Transportation has dismissed reports circulating online about the imminent launch of a “Lagos-Abuja High-Speed Bullet Train” that would reportedly cut travel time between both cities from 12 hours to just two to three hours.
In an official statement issued in Abuja, the ministry labeled the reports as “fake and unfounded”, clarifying that no such project has been approved.
The ministry pointed fingers at Geofocus Consortium, whose Director of Operations, Yinka Idris, had earlier claimed that feasibility studies were completed and funding secured for the ambitious project. The ministry, however, revealed that while Geofocus proposed the bullet train project in 2016 under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the company has yet to meet crucial requirements.
According to the ministry, the outline Business Case (OBC) was only forwarded to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in 2024 for vetting. The ICRC requested proof of financing through a support letter from the company’s financiers — a document Geofocus has yet to provide.
“It is only after fulfilling these requirements that the proposal can be submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval,” the statement read, adding that claims of secured funding and completed studies remain unfounded.
The ministry has demanded a public apology from Geofocus Consortium for spreading misinformation and urged Nigerians to disregard the false reports.
In its statement, the ministry also cautioned media outlets to verify information before publication to prevent the spread of fake news.
“The Ministry, under the leadership of Hon. Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, remains committed to advancing Nigeria’s transportation sector in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda,” it emphasized.
The ministry called on all stakeholders to collaborate in driving the sector’s growth and ensuring accurate information reaches the public.
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