Railway

NRC in multiple cargo train launches on Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line

Published

9 months ago

February 11, 2025

CAPTION From left; Managing Director Transco Africa Mr Ayo Olunuga, Port Manager, Apapa Port, Mr. A.I. Lawal, Managing Director Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, raising the flag, Executive Secretary/CEO Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr Pius Autah, NRC District Superintendent, Mrs Chidinmma Mba, and Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminal, Mrs Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, during the flag-off of Cargo train service...on Monday.

NRC in multiple cargo train launches on Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has embarked on multiple cargo train movements from Lagos to Ibadan using reliable private sector firms as part of measures to boost train operations and shore up its revenue.
Two different freight trains have been launched this week and each is expected to move from Lagos to Ibadan axis three times every week on the standard gauge line.
On Monday, the corporation in collaboration with APM Terminals, Apapa resumed the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train with 35 containers departing the Lagos Port container terminal for Ibadan, Oyo State.
A day earlier, the Bueno Logistics with the support of the NRC had pioneered the rail transportation of gypsum, moving 23 wagons of the product from Lagos for a cement company at Papalanto, Ogun State.

Speaking on Monday during the re-launch of the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train on the standard gauge rail, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the train haulage would take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
He said each train trip would move 35 wagons of 35 by 40ft or 35 wagons of 70 by 20ft containers or a mixture.
He said, “I am delighted to officially welcome you to the flag-off of container movement from Apapa to Moniya in Ibadan on the standard gauge rail.
“Though NRC and APM Terminals have a long history of doing business of container traffic to places in the hinterland of Nigeria such as Kaduna, Kano, it is mainly on the narrow gauge lines.
“However, container traffic movement by rail on the standard gauge in and out of APM Terminals to Moniya freight yard in Ibadan commenced on September 2023 with the likes of Bueno Logistics and Transco Africa Logistics blazing the trail among other customers using the single transitional line in APMT.
“Two additional lines are at an advanced stage of completion in APMT which will bring the total lines within the APMT standard gauge corridor to three lines.
“While this milestone event marks the commencement of container traffic expansion on the standard gauge rail Line from APMT Terminal to Moniya Ibadan Freight yard, this will facilitate the import and export of commodities with adequate convenience and hitch-free vehicle movement.”
Opeifa stressed the commitment of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to the revitalisation and modernisation project of the NRC for efficient rail system.
“As part of the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President, this is one of the surest ways to address the cost of goods, the standard of living and multi-dimensional poverty,” he added.
Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, said the resumption of rail haulage would lead to the decongestion of the port terminals.
“We at the NSC understand that rail transport happens to be the cheapest and safest when it comes to trade,” he stated.
Representing APM Terminals, the terminal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, highlighted the improvement made to the latest cargo train service.
She said, “The new schedule ensures trains depart three times a week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays— providing businesses with greater predictability and efficiency.
“Unlike the previous system, where trains departed only when fully loaded, the structured timetable allows customers to plan shipments in advance.
“Additionally, payments for the service have been streamlined, with customers now paying exclusively to APM Terminals Apapa, which will facilitate transactions with all relevant stakeholders.”
Speaking on the gypsum movement by train, in a post, Managing Director of Bueno Logistics Limited, Mazi Jetson Nwankwo, said the project commenced on Sunday February 9, 2025 with 23 wagons.
He explained that each of the wagons could accommodate 50-60 tonnes.
The train, he said, took off from ENL Apapa Port and headed for delivery at the Papalanto cement firm.
He said, “History is being made today as Bueno Logistics Limited, a pacesetter in rail-based logistics business, in collaboration with the NRC pioneered the movement of gypsum using the new standard gauge railway system from ENL Apapa Port to Papalanto, one of the leading cement companies in the country.”
“The train is departing with 23 wagons and each wagon takes 50-60 tonnes. And we will deliver within two and a half hours.”
“The train is safe, delivers in bulk and at a pocket-friendly rate,” Nwankwo added.

Railway

FG set to roll out nationwide railway connectivity plan — Opeifa

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2025

Trends Admin

FG set to roll out nationwide railway connectivity plan — Opeifa

The Federal Government is set to unveil a comprehensive National Railway Development Road Map aimed at linking all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by rail, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, announced this on Wednesday at the 7th National Transport Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

According to Dr. Opeifa, the road map provides a framework for seamless rail connectivity and access across the country, following legislative amendments that placed railway development on the concurrent legislative list.

“We are saying where there is a national rail asset, states should make use of it. The line is available from Lagos to Kano. If your state is along this corridor, you can run services on the line. Lagos and Plateau are already doing this, and we are open to working with others,” he said.

He disclosed that Lagos and Plateau states are already leveraging this new policy, while other states such as Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and Niger can also connect to existing national corridors to drive local economic development.

Opeifa further noted that the NRC had ramped up its freight-by-rail operations, transporting increased volumes of containerized cargo, gypsum, soda ash, cement, metal coils, and materials for the ongoing Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project.

Outlining the Corporation’s long-term vision, tagged “Vision 2-5-10-20”, he said the NRC plans to optimize national rail assets within two years; transition to electric traction by the fifth year; double the country’s rail capacity within ten years; and achieve not less than 60,000 kilometers of interconnected rail network nationwide within 20 years.

Opeifa affirmed that the new road map would “transform Nigeria’s transportation landscape, stimulate commerce, and open new frontiers of development across all regions.”

Railway

NRC restores derailed Warri-Itakpe Line, resumes service today, two suspects arrested

Published

4 days ago

November 5, 2025

Trends Admin

NRC restores derailed Warri-Itakpe Line, resumes service today, two suspects arrested

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor today (Wednesday), following the completion of repair works on the section of track affected by last weekend’s derailment near Agbor, Delta State.

The derailment, which occurred on Sunday, was traced to the vandalisation of fasteners and clips along the rail line.

Two suspects believed to be responsible for the act have been arrested.

These details are contained in a press statement released Tuesday evening and personally signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

The suspects — Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39) — were reportedly apprehended around Kilometre 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agents.

According to the Corporation, preliminary investigations and confessional statements confirmed their involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail infrastructure.

NRC restores derailed Warri-Itakpe Line, resumes service today, two suspects arrested

Railway

NRC confirms Warri–Itakpe train derailment, suspects track vandalism

Published

7 days ago

November 2, 2025

Trends Admin

File photo

NRC confirms Warri–Itakpe train derailment, suspects track vandalism

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the derailment of a Warri–Itakpe passenger train near Agbor on Saturday evening, assuring the public that no injuries or fatalities occurred.

This is coming barely four days after it reopened the line.

In a statement released on Sunday, NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed that the incident took place around 7:30 p.m. at Kilometer 212+8m and involved two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS).

Preliminary investigations suggest the derailment may have been caused by suspected track vandalism.