NRC announces free train rides, extra trips for Sallah special 

Getting home for the holidays just got a whole lot easier as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has rolled out its special Sallah train schedule, deploying extra trips and increasing capacity to ensure Nigerians can celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with their loved ones without the usual travel stress.

From the bustling Lagos-Ibadan corridor to the scenic Warri-Itakpe route, the NRC is stepping up its game to handle the festive surge.

Its key highlights of the Sallah schedule as contained in its latest statement are as follows:

* Lagos–Ibadan (LITS): On Thursday, March 19, the service will run three special trips.

* From Lagos: 7:40 a.m., 1:40 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.

* From Ibadan: 8:00 a.m., 10:50 a.m., and 4:30 p.m.

* Abuja–Kaduna (AKTS): To keep the capital connected, the NRC is boosting frequency. After two trips on Thursday, the corridor will move to three trips daily from Friday, March 20, through Monday, March 23.

* Warri–Itakpe (WITS): This route maintains its thrice-weekly flow.

* Warri to Itakpe: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays (8:00 a.m.).

* Itakpe to Warri: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (12:00 p.m.).

* Eastern Narrow Gauge: The Port Harcourt–Aba service remains fully operational on its regular schedule, ensuring the South-East stays moving.

These details are contained in a statement signed by the NRC Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu.

Osun free rides

In a heart-warming partnership, the NRC and the Osun State Government are bringing back the Imole Special Train.

Indigenes of Osun State can travel from Iddo Station in Lagos to Osogbo free of charge. This initiative, fully sponsored by the state, aims to ease the financial burden on families during the festive season.

“This special arrangement is designed to accommodate increased passenger traffic… ensuring a safe, reliable, and efficient rail transport service,” stated Callistus Unyimadu, NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer.

Tips for travellers 

To ensure your trip is as smooth as the tracks, the NRC recommends:

* Arrive Early: Be at the station well ahead of your departure time.

* Verify Tickets: Ensure you follow all official ticketing and security protocols.

* Check the Date: Remember that the Lagos-Ibadan special three-trip schedule is for March 19 only before reverting to normal service.

New inflation figures: Food prices jolt Nigerians as hunger bites 

Just when Nigerian households began to catch their breath, the cost of putting food on the table has surged again—signalling a troubling return of pressure on already strained wallets.

After six consecutive months of easing, food inflation made an abrupt comeback in February, exposing the fragile nature of recent price stability and raising fresh concerns about the cost-of-living outlook.

Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that annual food inflation climbed sharply to 12.12 per cent in February from 8.89 per cent in January. On a month-to-month basis, the shift was even more dramatic, swinging from a -6.02 per cent decline in January to a 4.69 per cent increase in February.

Behind the spike is a familiar story: rising prices of staple foods that form the backbone of everyday meals. Items such as beans, yam flour, cassava tuber, crayfish, millet flour and ogbono recorded notable increases, effectively pushing food costs higher across markets.

The rebound paints a stark contrast to the broader inflation picture. While headline inflation edged down marginally to 15.06 per cent in February from 15.10 per cent in January, the relief appears superficial as month-on-month figures reveal a renewed acceleration in price growth.

In practical terms, this means that although inflation is slowing on paper compared to last year, Nigerians are once again paying more for goods—especially food—than they did just a month ago.

A deeper look at regional data underscores the uneven burden. Kogi State emerged as the hardest hit, recording the highest food inflation rate at 26.91 per cent, followed by Adamawa and Benue. At the other end, states like Katsina, Bauchi and Imo posted relatively slower increases, offering limited pockets of relief.

The reversal in food inflation trend raises critical questions about supply stability, market dynamics and the sustainability of recent gains. For millions of households, however, the implications are immediate and personal: the brief respite at the market may already be over.

As food prices climb again, the struggle to afford basic meals is tightening its grip—reminding policymakers that the battle against inflation is far from won.

Dangote, China’s GCL Sign $4.2bn Gas Deal to Power Ethiopia Fertiliser Megaproject

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has sealed a US$4.2 billion, 25‑year natural gas supply agreement with China’s GCL Group, marking one of the most significant China–Africa industrial partnerships in recent years. The deal will supply natural gas to Dangote Group’s upcoming 3‑million‑tonne-per-year urea fertiliser complex in Gode, Somali Region, Ethiopia, a project expected to transform East Africa’s fertiliser landscape.

The fertiliser plant, valued at US$2.5 billion, is being developed under a 60:40 equity partnership between Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH). Scheduled to begin operations in 2029, it will become the largest modern fertiliser hub in East Africa, meeting Ethiopia’s current urea import demand while supplying neighbouring markets. Analysts say the project will reduce dependence on imports, strengthen regional food security, and support local industrial growth.

The natural gas required for the project will be sourced from the Calub Gas Field in Ethiopia’s Ogaden Basin and transported via a dedicated 108-kilometre pipeline directly to the fertiliser complex. This integrated approach links upstream gas extraction, midstream transport, and downstream fertiliser production, creating a closed-loop “gas-to-fertiliser” value chain.

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Speaking on the deal, Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries, said: “Africa cannot continue exporting raw materials while importing finished products. Through strategic cooperation with GCL, we will achieve a seamless energy-to-food industrial chain, advancing Africa’s industrial autonomy and food security.”

Zhu Gongshan, Chairman of GCL Group, highlighted the partnership’s broader impact, noting that it will expand energy, chemical, and food security sectors in Ethiopia and advance a mutually beneficial industrial ecosystem. He also commended the Ethiopian government for facilitating the project.

Industry experts note that the project carries multiple strategic benefits. It is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate infrastructure development in the Somali Region, and support low-carbon industrialisation by using natural gas as feedstock. The initiative also aligns with broader continental goals of building integrated energy-to-food systems, leveraging local resources, and enhancing industrial value chains.

The partnership is also considered a flagship initiative under China’s Belt and Road framework, demonstrating how industrial cooperation can combine energy development with agricultural advancement to strengthen food security and regional economic resilience.

By integrating Chinese technological expertise with Africa’s resource endowment, the project sets a benchmark for large-scale, resource-driven industrial projects on the continent, positioning East Africa as a hub for modern fertiliser production and signalling a new era of Africa–China industrial collaboration.

Dangote, China’s GCL Sign $4.2bn Gas Deal to Power Ethiopia Fertiliser Megaproject