The Onitsha Trade Gateway: A Sustainable Train Station Framework For Anambra State

Lessons From Nigeria And The Netherlands

Abstract

Train stations in Nigeria’s commercial hubs face a persistent sustainability gap. Train station design quality plays a critical role in shaping trade efficiency, mobility outcomes, and regional environmental sustainability. In Nigeria, train stations often face design limitations that restrict their effectiveness in supporting cleaner transport and intercity trade. This study explores the current design condition of selected train stations, with a particular focus on identifying opportunities for improvement through the integration of sustainable design elements, and proposes a conceptual framework, “the Onitsha trade gateway,†for a sustainable train station intended to link the commercial city of Onitsha to Aba. Using a case study approach, the study drew on existing peer-reviewed literature, sustainability assessments, and institutional documentation on three stations: Mobolaji Johnson Station, Obafemi Awolowo Station in Nigeria, and Utrecht Central Station in the Netherlands. The study emphasises the need to reevaluate train station design in Nigeria and proposes adopting sustainable design principles, informed by local precedent and international practice, as a practical way to close this gap. The paper offers context-specific design principles intended to inform future sustainable rail infrastructure planning and policy in Nigeria.