The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) is set to unveil a railway expansion plan that will connect more cities across the country than ever before, the corporation’s Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, announced on Saturday.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Opeifa said state governments are increasingly involved in rail development, supported by federal grants. “States are even receiving grants from the national government to develop their rail lines, and Lagos State is utilising track access on the Red Line,” he said.
He mentioned that Kaduna and Niger states are joining efforts to improve narrow-gauge lines, despite recent disruptions caused by flooding in Mokwa. “The plan was to take rail, this festival, three days ago, to Minna, Ilorin, and Offa,” Opeifa added.
Ogun State’s rail link and the new Jos-Bukuru line in Plateau State are also part of the expanding network. Opeifa credited recent changes that moved rail from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list, allowing states more freedom and support to develop their rail systems.
“This government allocated 400 billion naira in the current budget to support states, and some have already benefited,” he said.
While states are playing a larger role, Opeifa emphasized the federal government’s continuing responsibility to connect Nigerian cities through rail infrastructure.
He confirmed ongoing progress in all regions, with plans for the South-West nearing completion, and developments advancing in the South-East and North-East.
