The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has stated that the Nigerian government’s substantial investment in railway infrastructure is yielding significant improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency.
Speaking during a visit from the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), led by its National President and Board Chairman, Dr Olusegun Obayendo, Opeifa emphasised that further railway expansion is on the horizon as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended the professionals within the NRC, describing them as the driving force behind the country’s rail transport sector. He noted that technology transfer facilitated by the Chinese government and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has enhanced local expertise, strengthening human capital development in alignment with the government’s investment objectives.
Opeifa highlighted that the NRC is committed to leveraging the capabilities of its workforce to enhance efficiency and expand the railway’s potential within its financial constraints.
He pointed out that the corporation has a cadre of young engineers capable of refurbishing and modernising locomotives and coaches. Thanks to the skills gained from collaboration with the CCECC, they are also equipped to construct rail tracks.
He stressed that mobility is a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and one of its key initiatives will be the extensive rehabilitation of Nigeria’s narrow-gauge railway system.
The NRC, he added, is prepared to assume a more strategic role beyond rail transport management by positioning itself as a logistics service provider.
Opeifa disclosed that legacy narrow-gauge tracks are now operational within ports, with the NRC partnering with a terminal operator to transport seventy 40-foot containers three times weekly from Apapa Port to the Inland Dry Port in Ibadan, Oyo State. Discussions are also at an advanced stage for another operator to commence bulk cargo movement.
He assured Nigerians that, in the coming months, seamless freight transport from Lagos beyond Ibadan will become a reality, with planned extensions to Ilorin, Mokwa, and Minna.
“We are gradually reclaiming our position as the primary mode for bulk cargo transportation over long distances, a role that has been largely taken over by road transport.
“We are not only focusing on moving freight via the standard-gauge railway, but we are also revitalising the nation’s agricultural supply chain. Efforts are underway to restore the Idogo rail line connecting Ogun State and Lagos to facilitate the transportation of farm produce to urban markets,” he said.
The NRC is also encouraging state governments to capitalise on existing rail spurs within their territories by constructing new lines to enhance public transportation. Opeifa revealed that the corporation is working on granting States track access, similar to the arrangement for Lagos State’s Red Line, which is designed to meet the needs of local communities.
Several states, including Ogun, Bauchi, Niger, Plateau, and Borno, have expressed interest in adopting Lagos State’s rail development model. He also highlighted opportunities for regional development commissions to invest in railway infrastructure, revealing that discussions have commenced with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission regarding rail expansion. Talks are also ongoing with other regional organisations.
Opeifa further announced that within the month, the corporation would commence operations on the Jos-Kuru rail line as part of a collaborative effort with the Plateau State government to optimise rail transport services in the region.
In the medium to long term, the NRC is considering deploying mini-grids to support its research and development team’s work on introducing compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered locomotives on select routes.
He called on the private sector to take a more active role in the railway system to boost Nigeria’s rail economy.
In response, CIOTA President Olusegun Obayendo commended President Tinubu for appointing Opeifa, describing him as the ideal candidate for the role.
Similarly, Professor Iyiola Oni, Dean of the College of Multimodal Transportation at the University of Lagos, and Professor Samuel Gbadebo Odewunmi, former Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics at Lagos State University (LASU), pledged CIOTA’s full support in ensuring Opeifa’s success.
Meanwhile, terminal operators under the NRC’s concessioned areas paid a courtesy visit to the NRC MD, where they reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating the movement of cargo by rail across the country.
