NIGERIA’S RAIL FREIGHT SECTOR RECORDS A TOTAL OF 133116 MT OF GOODS TRANSPORTED ACROSS THE NARROW AND STANDARD GAUGE RAIL CORRIDORS 20-06-25
By Sadiq Aminu Nigeria’s rail freight sector has recorded significant cargo movements in the first quarter of 2025, with a total of one hundred and thirty three thousand, one hundred and sixteen metric tonnes of goods transported across the narrow and standard gauge rail corridors.
According to official figures obtained in Lagos, rail cargo operations moved a total of one hundred and four train frequencies within the three month period spanning January to March 2025.
Standard gauge operations accounted for the bulk of the movement, handling ninety nine thousand six hundred metric tonnes across fifty trips while narrow gauge moved thirty three thousand five hundred and sixteen metric tonnes on fifty four trips.
The surge in rail freight operations comes as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Railways Corporation intensify efforts to enhance cargo evacuation through the nation’s railway corridors, particularly from the Lagos ports.
Speaking at a Stakeholders meeting in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu had underscored the Agency’s commitment to optimising cargo movements through multimodal transport systems.
Also the Head of Operations at the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Akin Oshinowo had reaffirmed the Corporation’s collaboration with the Nigeria Customs, describing the partnership as a key component of the established Standard Operating Procedures guiding rail carg evacuation.
Stakeholders at the forum had also expressed optimism that the renewed drive to strengthen rail freight capacity would translate into reduced imports costs, faster cargo delivery and a more efficient supply chain across Nigeria’s trade corridors.