The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (Nigerian Railway Corporation), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has announced the formation of a committee aimed at accelerating the integration of Nigeria’s ports with the national rail network, in a move designed to improve freight movement and attract greater private sector participation in rail infrastructure development.
He made this known during a quarterly stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, where industry players from both the maritime and rail sectors gathered to discuss strategies for improving logistics efficiency across the country.
According to him, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has also set up a broader committee to ensure effective implementation of the rail-port connectivity initiative. He stressed that without strong rail links, recent reforms and investments in deep-sea ports would not deliver their full economic potential.
Dr. Opeifa noted that while collaboration between the NRC and port authorities has improved significantly under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, more work is still required to ensure smooth cargo movement, especially in Lagos and the eastern port corridors.
He highlighted ongoing challenges in transporting goods efficiently from ports to inland destinations and called for deliberate reforms to reduce bottlenecks and improve operational performance within the freight system.
The NRC boss also revealed plans for new rail expansions, including connections between major ports and existing rail lines such as the Lagos-Ibadan corridor to Apapa and Tincan Island ports, the Warri-Itakpe line to Warri Port, and extensions toward eastern ports including Port Harcourt and Onne. He added that approval has been granted for additional linkages involving the Lagos-Kano corridor and Baro Port.
He further disclosed that the Kaduna-Kano rail project is nearing completion, while plans are underway to connect the Lekki Deep Sea Port through key industrial routes, enhancing cargo distribution nationwide.
Dr. Opeifa emphasised that full rail connectivity across all ports remains essential for boosting economic growth, reducing transport costs, and improving logistics efficiency. He also called on stakeholders, including truck operators, to support the initiative, noting that multimodal transport integration would benefit all players in the supply chain.
