Abuja, Nigeria – The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has stated that Nigeria’s rail sector has witnessed more significant development in the last decade than it did in the six decades following independence. Speaking on TVC News’ Business Nigeria, Opeifa challenged the public perception of the rail sector as dormant, noting instead that there is vast untapped potential that is now being harnessed under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Historical Progress and Missed Opportunities
Opeifa provided a historical perspective, noting that between 1898 and 1960, Nigeria developed around 3,000 km of rail, but progress stagnated between 1960 and 2000. Real momentum, he said, began around 2015 with projects like:
- Abuja-Kaduna rail
- Warri-Itakpe line
- Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge
These, he added, reflected the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s vision of integrated national infrastructure from as far back as 1970.
Optimising Existing Infrastructure
Instead of building new tracks, the current strategy is maximizing existing rail capacity—particularly for freight. Notable achievements include:
- Linking Apapa Port with inland terminals like Idu, Moniya, Omi-Adio, and Ilorin
- Expansion efforts to Minna and Kaduna, hindered by recent track washouts
- A Track Access Programme, enabling states like Lagos, Plateau, and Borno to revive idle tracks
Freight movement is growing, with private logistics companies now transporting cargo—such as AKK pipeline pipes—using rail lines from Warri Port via the central corridor.
Energy Transition and Emission Reduction
Opeifa highlighted the corporation’s shift towards cleaner energy, aligned with Nigeria’s 2060 net-zero target:
- LNG-powered trains have undergone successful 30-day test runs using 70% LNG, 30% diesel
- CNG is also being considered, though it requires more tank volume
- An MoU with the Presidential Pi-CNG team will support this transition, aimed at cutting rising diesel costs and emissions
“We are adopting the President’s CNG transition plan, which offers real savings in operational and energy costs,” he said.
A Future of Integrated Growth
The NRC boss stressed that rail transport is key to national integration, economic development, and poverty alleviation. He concluded that the corporation is now better positioned to unlock its full potential—with a focus on freight efficiency, sustainability, and intermodal collaboration.
