Senate Launches Probe as as Nigeria’s Rail Services Plummet

The Senate has launched an investigation into Nigeria’s railway contracts and project execution following a sharp decline in services across key routes. Lawmakers expressed alarm that major lines such as the Kano–Kaduna corridor now operate just one passenger trip per day, while cargo delays have nearly doubled. During plenary, senators cited persistent bandit attacks, poor maintenance, and aging infrastructure as major setbacks undermining the rail sector’s revival. Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive review of all ongoing and completed rail projects, focusing on their design, funding, execution, and maintenance records. The probe, lawmakers said, seeks to determine why Nigeria’s railway system, once seen as the backbone of national transport, is now struggling to meet basic operational standards.

FG Inaugurates Freight Services On Apapa-Ibadan Cargo Rail

The Federal Government has finally inaugurated the first cargo movement from the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor after initial concern over the under-utilization of the standard gauge rail line 2 years after its commissioning. The inauguration was performed by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, during his first official tour of the rail corridor on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The minister kicked off the tour at the Ebute Meta station before proceeding to Apapa for the launch, then travelled to Ibadan using the 157 km rail corridor. Three coaches of 30 wagons were loaded as the inaugural freight movement was kicked off. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it would start with 3 coaches per day with its Managing Director (MD) noting that the corporation had the capacity to scale up the numbers. This effort is expected to decongest the Apapa port as shippers moved 92.28% of Nigeria’s total exports and 60.77 percent of imports through the facility in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1’22).