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

Warri-Itakpe Train Crash: Full Manifest Retrieved, FG, NRC Condole Families of Five Dead

Published

6 days ago

June 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Warri-Itakpe Train Crash: Full Manifest Retrieved, FG, NRC Condole Families of Five Dead

The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have said the full manifest of passengers and crew members aboard the ill-fated Warri–Itakpe train has been retrieved, even as they extended condolences to the families of the five persons who lost their lives in Monday’s accident near Agbor, Delta State.

In a joint update on the incident, the ministry and the NRC said efforts were ongoing to identify all injured passengers and deceased victims for proper documentation, while assuring that relevant authorities would have access to the complete onboard manifest.

The agencies confirmed that five persons — four adults and a baby — died when four coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) capsized and another derailed along the corridor. They added that 24 passengers sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

According to the statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, a total of 442 passengers had booked for the journey, while 40 crew members, security personnel and third-party service providers were on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.

The ministry said rescue and evacuation operations were immediately activated following the accident, with support from the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities and other emergency responders.

The rescue efforts, which were completed by 6:30 p.m., also received assistance from the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah.

The ministry and the NRC expressed their deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.

They also commended the Delta State Government, emergency response agencies, security operatives, medical personnel, the NRC Mechanical Directorate and the corporation’s special rescue and emergency team for their swift intervention.

The statement added that a full investigation into the cause of the accident had commenced, assuring that authorities would continue to account for all passengers and provide necessary support to those affected by the tragedy.

Railway

NRC Confirms Warri–Itakpe Train Accident, Three Passengers Dead

Published

1 week ago

June 9, 2026

Trends Admin

NRC Confirms Warri–Itakpe Train Accident, Three Passengers Dead

Three passengers reportedly died and many others injured on Monday following the derailment of a train operating on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), raising fresh concerns about safety and operational challenges on one of Nigeria’s most important standard-gauge railway corridors.

The accident occurred at Agbor, Delta State, along the Warri–Itakpe route, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

In a statement signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the corporation disclosed that rescue and emergency operations were ongoing while efforts were being made to determine the full extent of the accident.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service occurred today. Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement said.

The NRC said it was closely monitoring developments and promised to provide further details as investigations progress.

Although the corporation did not immediately state the number of casualties or injuries, sources familiar with the incident said three passengers lost their lives in the derailment.

Monday’s accident is the latest setback for the rail corridor, which has experienced a series of operational disruptions in recent years.

In April 2025, the NRC suspended train operations on the Warri–Itakpe route for 72 hours after a major technical failure left hundreds of passengers stranded in a remote forest area in Kogi State for several hours.

The disruption sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the reliability and maintenance of the service.

The corporation attributed the incident to multiple engine failures and subsequently launched investigations while carrying out repairs before resuming operations.

The Warri–Itakpe line has also faced vandalism of railway infrastructure and security concerns along parts of the corridor.

Commissioned as Nigeria’s first standard-gauge rail line dedicated initially to freight movement before passenger services were introduced, the route links Warri in Delta State with Itakpe in Kogi State, serving thousands of passengers and facilitating the movement of goods across several states.

Transportation stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger safety measures, improved maintenance culture and increased investment in rail infrastructure to prevent recurring incidents and enhance public confidence in the country’s rail transport system.

Railway

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism

Published

3 weeks ago

May 25, 2026

Trends Admin

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism

Kaduna, Nigeria – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed facilities belonging to a Chinese-linked steel company across the country following allegations of involvement in railway vandalism and the illegal recycling of critical national infrastructure . The enforcement action targeted Inner Galaxy Steel Company and other associated facilities after months of intelligence-led investigations linked the firm to the alleged handling, compression, and melting of vandalised railway materials .

The operation, which followed weeks of intensive surveillance, was triggered by a viral video on social media that showed extensive vandalism of the newly laid Kaduna-Kano railway tracks as well as older rail infrastructure across parts of Northern Nigeria . After the video circulated widely, the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi , directed the Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) , led by Commandant Apollos Dandaura, and the Kaduna State Command to identify and arrest those responsible for the economic sabotage.

Speaking on Sunday at the company’s premises in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State , the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi , said the operation followed the arrest of suspects and the recovery of railway tracks and sleepers from the facility . Afolabi disclosed that the corps had obtained a court order and search warrant authorising the sealing of the premises and the preservation of recovered exhibits for prosecution by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) , which has since commended the NSCDC for its sustained crackdown on railway vandals.

According to Afolabi, preliminary findings from the investigation revealed a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating under the guise of legitimate business. Vandalised railway materials were allegedly transported to the company’s Kaduna facility, where they were compressed into scrap metal to conceal their original form. From Kaduna, the compressed materials were transported to the company’s head office in Aba, Abia State . There, the stolen national assets were allegedly melted down and recycled into products such as roofing sheets, nails, and iron rods , which were then sold back to the public. The NSCDC described this as a sophisticated local and international network engaging in economic sabotage.