Railway

Lagos to Ibadan rail: Proof of pudding is in the eating

Published

6 years ago

December 16, 2020

Life is gradually returning to the rail track leading from Lagos to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. PAUL ADE-ADELEYE shares his experience

After much talk, some animosity and a burst of determination, the Lagos to Ibadan rail line finally kicked off activities low-key on December 7. Although its maiden trip was mocked for recording generally low patronage, the fault did not lie with the quality of service on offer; neither did it lie, contrary to popular opinion, with the fare of commuting. A return journey to and from Ibadan last week Wednesday, turned out to be exhilarating.

Train host/hostesses

Everyone has said it, so it is no secret that none of the train stations on the 156km route is complete at the moment. The closest to completion is the Lagos terminal at Ebute Metta in Lagos Mainland. When completed, the terminal has been touted to match international standards. A cursory glance at the level of work ongoing at the station seems to point to the absence of any fib on the part of those who believe that the new terminal will be of high quality. Awaiting the comfort of the new terminal, however, Lagos District Manager of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Jerry Oche, took it upon himself to ensure that travellers were well treated.

Inviting the first five travellers to arrive at the Lagos Station to the conference room of the old terminal last Wednesday, the manager fielded questions and even served drinks, apologising that the waiting area and ticketing booth were not ready. One traveller wondered aloud why there was little publicity concerning how the train would work, especially as most travellers simply had to grope their way through the procedure leading up to boarding the train. Mr Oche, an engineer, however, revealed that the absence of fanfare and advertorial that would serve as official publicity for the commencement of the train service was deliberate.

Officially, the train service has not been commissioned. This will be done by President Buhari sometime in January by which time it is hoped the project would have been completed. Meanwhile, the bit-part launching of the train service means that with current operations, the train can sit as many as 580 people. At the moment, especially since the station is not completely ready and there is no secure waiting area, it may be difficult to manage such a number. Oche is reluctant to kick-start operations at full capacity when the facilities to manage such numbers are not yet completely available. For now, he appears content to let the train service announce itself, a strategy that appears to be yielding dividends.

The district manager is additionally confident that this can be a successful strategy because the train service had conducted a free trial from Iju to Ibadan and only the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the service. When the trial started, they recorded low turnout but soon the numbers skyrocketed and maximum patronage was recorded at every journey.

Facilities

The reporter arrived at the train station with the intent of travelling humbly. Humility must be understood to mean economy class. However, when the booking clerk would ask what class of commuting the reporter wanted, a strange whim caused the reporter to opt for first class.

The passage

The first-class coach, which seats 24 passengers, costs N6,000; the business class coach, which seats 56 passengers, costs N5,000; while the economy coaches cost N3,000 for the 68-seater coach and N2, 000 for the 88-seater coach.

Luxury is an addictive spirit, so let it suffice to say that the return journey was first class also. Whatever the financial effects of this deluxe treatment of self, the devil may care but the reporter does not. To purchase a train ticket, the prospective commuter must present some form of identification – no doubt for security purposes.

Despite the incompleteness of the rail station, the manager was keen on security. He mandated that only travellers were to be on the ramp leading up to the train during boarding hours. There are also contracted security personnel belonging to several paramilitary bodies who embark on every train ride for the safety of the passengers. No staffer without business on the train was to be in the vicinity. At the entrance of the train, courteous staff (a welcome improvement in Nigeria) greeted the passengers, and the train not to be outdone, also breathed a cheeky draught of cold air. The trip, this implied, would be fully air-conditioned. The train was not complaining, the employees were not, and the passengers certainly were not. That consensus being reached, the reporter did not begrudge the train hostess leading him to the first class session – he paid for it anyway. There were sinks on the train, restrooms and a mini-bar from which nourishment was to be served for the pleasure of travellers.

Cross-checking this array of amenities with a contact in the United Kingdom confirmed that the regular metro trains do not offer this luxury. Only the long-distance trains, which operate between counties, do. While the economy and business class carriages looked comfortable enough, the reporter cannot say much for them, having only passed through. The first-class coach, however, was what it promised. The seats had trays, which could be summoned or neatly tucked away according to the traveller’s preference. The seats could also be rotated a full 360 degrees should the traveller not enjoy the sensation of being in reverse as the train rolls along. Trains, you see, hardly turn. There are engines at both ends, which propel the train depending on the train’s direction, and so the traveller is either travelling backward or forward.

Interior of the First Class coach

At exactly 4 pm, the train departed the station. The passengers had been warned that the trip would last 2:41 hours. There are stations in Agege, Alagbado, Kajola, Abeokuta, Papalanto, Olodo, Omi Adio and finally Moniya, Ibadan, but for now, only the Abeokuta station is a stopping station. The stop was for only five minutes, and, as promised, at exactly 6:41, the train rolled into the Ibadan station. Similarly, the next morning, the train departed Ibadan by exactly 8 am and was in Ebute Metta at exactly 10:41 am. At maximum speed, the train is expected to eat up the distance at the rate of 150km/hr. The precision was encouraging for it meant a fellow could work his schedule around the train schedule. Mr Oche noted that when the train service became fully operational, it could make as many as 16 trips daily with a train departing and arriving every other hour. The journey could have been shorter, but people trading on the rail lines have forced the train to virtually crawl through Lagos, picking up speed from Alagbado station.

Verdict

For the current prices, the Lagos-Ibadan rail service is worth the expenditure. As noted by many analysts, the advantages floor whatever financial inconvenience the traveller may experience. For N2,500, the commuter who has chosen economy class will get more than double the comfort that a traveller by road would hope to enjoy in public transport. The traveller again enjoys additional guarantee that they will arrive at their destination in one piece and at a pre-arranged time. The business class traveller, for only N5,000, will enjoy more exclusivity and can make use of a laptop or other such device as may be reasonably sized for their work. It is presumed that the first-class passenger has called congress in his mind and deliberated on what premium can be placed on comfort and luxury in travelling. Honeymooners or those who do not like crowded spaces are advised to travel first class. It offers comforts that even luxurious private vehicles struggle to match.

The fear, as with many other things in Nigeria, is the maintenance culture. It was lack of proper maintenance and farsightedness that led to the decline of the railway system which the British bequeathed. The NRC must be careful not to rest on its oars but seek new and better ways to innovate rail travel, for only by so doing can the current pace be sustained and evenly matched. The District Manager predicts that by February, the stations will be completed. It is difficult to see how that is possible.

-The Nation

Railway

Rail-Port-Industry Link Critical to Cutting Logistics Costs – NRC

Published

2 weeks ago

September 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Rail-Port-Industry Link Critical to Cutting Logistics Costs – NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has said Nigeria must urgently integrate its rail network with seaports, inland dry ports and industrial centres to cut logistics costs, ease pressure on the highways and make the movement of goods across the country more efficient.

The NRC said a seamless connection between rail lines, ports and major production centres would strengthen the movement of agricultural produce, containers, petroleum products and other bulk cargoes, while reducing the cost and time involved in transporting goods from ports to markets and industries.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, stated this on Thursday in Lagos in a speech delivered on his behalf at the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference, stressing that rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation must work as an integrated transportation system if Nigeria is to unlock the full economic benefits of its logistics sector.

The NRC boss also revealed that the corporation had opened the door wider for private investors to participate in the development of freight terminals, logistics hubs, rolling stock and other critical infrastructure as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s rail system into a major engine of economic growth.

He said stronger private-sector participation was imperative because government alone could not provide the massive investment required to build an efficient and interconnected transportation system capable of lowering logistics costs and boosting economic activities.

Opeifa said Nigeria could no longer afford to develop its transportation modes in isolation, stressing the need to connect rail with seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.

He said such integration would enable rail to play a greater role in moving bulk cargo across the country, while reducing the pressure currently placed on the highways.

According to him, rail has the capacity to move large volumes of passengers and freight over long distances and should therefore become a critical component of Nigeria’s logistics architecture.

He said, “At the Nigerian Railway Corporation, our focus is therefore not only on passenger transportation but also on strengthening freight operations and creating greater connectivity between rail lines, seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.”

The NRC MD identified agricultural produce, petroleum products, containers and other commodities as some of the major categories of cargo that could benefit from a more efficient rail freight system.

He said an effective multimodal transportation network involving rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation would reduce the cost of doing business, improve access to markets and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.

Opeifa also called for a regulatory framework capable of attracting private capital into the transportation sector, particularly in rolling stock, freight terminals, logistics hubs and related infrastructure.

“The future of Nigeria’s transportation sector must also be driven by stronger partnerships. Government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure and investment required,” he said.

The NRC’s position comes amid growing concerns over the high cost of logistics and the burden placed on Nigerian businesses by inefficient movement of goods from ports to markets and production centres.

Opeifa said transportation infrastructure should be viewed not simply as public assets but as critical economic infrastructure capable of stimulating industrial production, trade and employment.

He, however, warned that vandalism and encroachment remained major threats to railway investments, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, security organisations, host communities and passengers to protect railway tracks, bridges, signalling systems and other infrastructure.

He said the protection of rail infrastructure must become a collective responsibility if the country was to derive the full economic benefits of ongoing investments in the sector.

The NRC chief executive also stressed the need to make transportation affordable and accessible, noting that improved mobility would provide Nigerians with greater access to jobs, markets, education and economic opportunities.

Opeifa reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to the Federal Government’s vision of developing a modern, integrated and efficient transportation system capable of supporting the country’s economic aspirations.

He commended TCAN for providing a platform for policymakers, operators, investors, professionals and the media to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s transportation sector.

He said sustained investment, innovation, collaboration and effective policy implementation remained essential to building a logistics system capable of unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

Railway

Fire Scare at Abuja Train Station as Electrical Fault Sparks Blaze, NRC Assures Passengers

Published

4 weeks ago

September 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Fire Scare at Abuja Train Station as Electrical Fault Sparks Blaze, NRC Assures Passengers

A minor fire caused by an electrical fault broke out at the Idu Train Station in Abuja on Wednesday night, but the incident did not disrupt operations on the Abuja–Kaduna train route, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said.

The fire, which occurred in the station’s low-voltage electrical room, was detected at about 8:30 p.m. and was quickly brought under control by maintenance personnel.

A preliminary inspection showed that some electrical supply cables connected to the station’s control panels were damaged in the incident.

Fire Scare at Abuja Train Station as Electrical Fault Sparks Blaze, NRC Assures Passengers

Railway

Nine Oxygen Cylinders Recovered as NRC, NSCDC Thwart Rail Vandalism in Osogbo

Published

1 month ago

August 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Oxygen Cylinders Recovered as NRC, NSCDC Thwart Rail Vandalism in Osogbo

Suspected railway vandals fled for their lives after security operatives swooped on a railway siding serving the Dangote Steel Rolling Mills in Osogbo, Osun State, recovering nine oxygen gas cylinders allegedly deployed for the illegal operation.

The recovery operation, carried out by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), followed a report of vandalisation of railway track materials at the siding, currently not in operation.

According to a statement issued by the NRC Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, and signed for the management, the Principal Track Officer (PTO), Osogbo, received a report on Friday, August 28, 2026, concerning the ongoing vandalisation of railway track materials at the location.

Following the report, the PTO proceeded to the site with security personnel, including officers of the NSCDC Railway Command. On sighting the operatives, the suspected vandals reportedly fled the scene.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of nine oxygen gas cylinders, which were allegedly being used in the illegal operation.

The recovered railway materials and the surrounding area have since been secured by security personnel, the NRC said.