The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has urged stronger rail connections to ports to improve efficiency in Nigeria’s freight and logistics system.

The managing director, Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos.

Speaking at a Nigerian Ports Consultative Council meeting, he warned that maritime reforms and deep seaports would deliver limited gains without effective rail connectivity.

Mr Opeifa acknowledged strong collaboration between the NRC and port authorities, noting considerable progress in recent years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He stressed that more effort was needed to optimise goods movement from ports, especially in Lagos and along the eastern corridor to other regions.

The NRC boss highlighted persistent challenges in rail cargo movement and called for deliberate measures to enhance operational efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.

“Optimising port operations through a revolution of freight by rail is critical to achieving a more reliable and cost-effective system,” he said.

On eastern port interconnectivity, Mr Opeifa said new rail lines were planned to enhance port operations and support regional trade integration.

Providing updates on infrastructure, he disclosed that the Kaduna–Kano rail corridor would soon be completed.

He said the federal government was linking existing rail lines to ports to improve cargo evacuation and reduce congestion within port corridors.

“The government has approved plans, including extending the Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge from Apapa Port to Tin Can Island Port.

“On the central line, the Warri–Itakpe line will connect Warri Port to improve cargo movement.

“On the eastern flank, the narrow gauge will link Port Harcourt Port at Onne, while Lagos–Kano will connect to Baro Port,” he said.

Mr Opeifa said connecting all ports by rail would boost the economy and urged stakeholders, especially truckers, not to undermine the initiative.

He noted their role in moving raw materials from farms to ports and distributing imports from freight yards to final destinations by road.

“A rail line to Lekki Deep Sea Port via Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu to Kajola is planned and expected to commence this year,” he said.

He called for more freight yards across narrow and standard gauge lines to improve cargo handling capacity and logistics efficiency.

Mr Opeifa added that the government was pursuing high-speed rail development through private sector participation.

He also announced that the secretary to the government of the federation had constituted a committee to drive the initiative’s implementation. 

(NAN)