- NRC, SWDC Move to Revive Dormant Rail Routes Across Southwest
- Dr Opeifa said NRC is committed to collaborating with federal agencies, subnationals and development commissions
- Akinola said the Commission’s interest was inspired by the extensive groundwork already carried out by DAWN
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has expressed readiness to partner with the Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) to revive dormant rail routes and strengthen regional rail connectivity across the Southwest.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, made this known while hosting the SWDC management team, led by its Managing Director, Mr Charles Diji Akinola, on Wednesday in Lagos.
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Opeifa welcomed the Commission’s entry into the rail sector and commended its commitment to expanding rail infrastructure in the region.
“We are delighted to see the SWDC take off from where the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission stopped, in developing a master plan for regional rail development for states in the southwest,” he said.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Public Relations Officer of NRC, Callistus Unyimadu, Akinola said the Commission’s interest was inspired by the extensive groundwork already carried out by DAWN in rail and infrastructure development across the six Southwest states.
He noted that rail connectivity is central to the region’s economic revitalisation.
Akinola explained that SWDC’s rail infrastructure plans are categorised into short, medium and long term. In the short term, the Commission is seeking the ceding of old unserviced rail routes on a profit sharing basis, including the reactivation of the Osogbo Dagbolu Erunmu line and the Idogo route, which is crucial for boosting food security and transporting farm produce.
He said Lagos, Oyo and Osun currently enjoy rail services, but the Commission aims to expand usage to move foodstuffs into Lagos and return with consumer goods to other Southwest states, which will spur economic activity and attract subsidies for residents.
“We want to take up the Idogo route. This route is noted for moving farm produce from our farmers to markets in Lagos where they are in high demand. We want to incentivise agricultural produce and the Idogo line would play a major role,” he added.
In the medium term, the Commission will seek operational and track access licences for new routes and attract investors to run regional rail lines.
Akinola said the plan, previously advanced by the DAWN Commission, will connect all Southwest states to national rail lines through new spurs, activating facilities such as the dry ports at Omi Adio and Moniya.
He also requested land approvals for the construction of warehouses to support commercial rail activities, noting previous success with a siding at Dagbolu in Osun State.
Akinola emphasised the need for a technical team to work with the NRC, assuring that the initiative has full backing from all Southwest governors.
Dr Opeifa, in his response, said the NRC is committed to collaborating with federal agencies, subnationals and development commissions in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to deepen railway penetration nationwide.
He noted that other regional bodies, including the Southeast Development Commission and the Niger State Government, have expressed similar interest in reactivating Eastern and Northern corridors for agricultural and commercial movement.
“What you are asking for is possible and will happen. Our people are already working on your request for operating track access licences, and I have mandated all directors to work with your technical team to prepare the right MOU,” he said.
He highlighted that moving railway regulation from the exclusive to the concurrent list has ended monopoly in the sector, opening space for state governments, private investors and regional development commissions to actively participate.
Opeifa added that the NRC’s Track Access Programme and Railing With the States initiative will allow Southwest states to use national rail corridors at no extra cost.
The joint team later toured the Lagos Iddo Terminal, currently under renovation, and the Mobolaji Johnson Station at Ebute Metta.
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