Several countries have been trying to accelerate regional transport infrastructure projects since the entry into force of the Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf). This is to make them instruments to implement and make the best use of the new trade policies.

As part of the Kano-Katsina-Maradi transnational rail project, Nigeria and Niger signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint commission. According to the Nigerian authorities, this project aims to connect, among other things, the country's major non-oil production centres, in particular agricultural basins, to port facilities. The implementation will enable the country to capture a large part of the flow of goods from and to Niger, which due to its landlocked state uses the neighbouring ports of Cotonou, Lomé and Tema for its transactions with the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, the project is struggling to start due to funding difficulties.