NRC seeks state backing for railway police, unveils plan to electrify rail lines

NRC seeks state backing for railway police, unveils plan to electrify rail lines

 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has called for stronger collaboration between state governments and the railway police, warning that safeguarding rail infrastructure is central to protecting Nigeria’s mobility corridors and sustaining economic growth.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a flagship programme on Channels Television, on Saturday, Opeifa said the railway police currently operate in 26 states and should be treated by state governments as an integral part of their local security architecture.

According to him, rail lines cut across multiple states and serve as critical national assets whose protection requires coordinated security efforts beyond federal agencies alone.

“The security of railway infrastructure is tied to the security of our mobility corridors,” he said, urging state authorities to actively support the Railway Police to prevent vandalism and other threats to the network.

Drawing from his experience as a former commissioner in Lagos, Opeifa recalled how Railway Police personnel once assisted the state government during the cleanup of the Oshodi transport hub, describing it as an example of how inter-agency collaboration can protect strategic public infrastructure.

“The history of the Nigerian Railway Corporation is the history of Nigeria itself,” he said, noting that the challenges facing the rail system often mirror broader national development issues.

Opeifa traced the current wave of railway modernisation to 2015, when the country began shifting from narrow gauge to modern standard gauge rail lines under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He noted that several landmark rail projects were delivered during that period, including the Abuja–Kaduna Railway, Warri–Itakpe line, Abuja Rail Mass Transit and the Lagos–Ibadan Railway, while work also began on the ambitious Port Harcourt–Maiduguri corridor.

The NRC boss also highlighted the constitutional amendment that moved railway from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, saying the reform has opened the door for states such as Lagos, Kano, Ogun and Plateau to participate more actively in rail development.

He disclosed that the corporation has developed a national rail map that shows how emerging state rail projects can connect with the national rail network to create a more integrated transport system.

As part of its long-term strategy, Opeifa revealed that the NRC plans to electrify major rail corridors within the next five years, starting with Warri and Lagos where gas resources could support power generation for electric train operations.

He said electrification would improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and align Nigeria’s railway operations with global best practices.

Beyond infrastructure expansion, the NRC chief also addressed operational challenges such as ticket racketeering, attributing the problem largely to high passenger demand.

To curb the practice, he said the corporation has introduced a double verification process for passengers—one check at the waiting area and another during boarding—which has significantly reduced illegal ticket sales.

Opeifa further assured travellers that security on the Abuja–Kaduna corridor remains strong, noting that train operations and station activities are monitored from a central control room. He added that the corporation plans to replicate similar monitoring systems on other routes.

In response to rising passenger traffic, he disclosed that the number of daily trips on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service has been increased to three.

Looking ahead, Opeifa said the corporation is also exploring ways to harness the tourism and entertainment potential of railway services, promising that the NRC will continue expanding operations while positioning rail transport as a key driver of national integration and economic development.