By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced an ambitious plan to transition to electric traction within five years and double national rail capacity within a decade, as part of its long-term Vision 2-5-10-20 development framework.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, made the disclosure during the Seventh National Transport Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA) in Abuja.
Opeifa explained that the new vision aims to optimise national rail assets within the first two years, transition to electric-powered trains by the fifth year, double rail capacity in ten years, and achieve a 60,000-kilometre national rail network within twenty years.
“The NRC plans to optimise national rail assets within the first two years, transition to electric traction by the fifth year, double national rail capacity within ten years, and achieve not less than 60,000 kilometres of rail network nationwide within 20 years,” Opeifa said.
He also revealed that the Federal Government is set to unveil a comprehensive National Railway Development Roadmap to ensure rail connectivity across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Opeifa, the roadmap is designed to give all states access to the national rail corridors at no extra cost, following recent legislative reforms that moved railway development to the concurrent legislative list.
He noted that Lagos and Plateau States are already utilising the new policy, while other states such as Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, and Niger are encouraged to connect to existing rail corridors.
“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,” he said.
Opeifa further highlighted the ongoing freight-by-rail expansion, with the NRC currently transporting higher volumes of containerised cargo, gypsum, soda ash, cement, metal coils, and materials for the AKK Pipeline Project.
He reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, and sustainable rail system that would support industrial growth, improve logistics efficiency, and reduce road congestion across the country.