The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South West Development Commission (SWDC) to revive several dormant railway routes across the South-West geopolitical zone.
NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos after receiving a delegation from the SWDC led by its Managing Director, Mr. Charles Akinola.
Opeifa said the collaboration would reopen abandoned rail corridors, enhance regional trade, and strengthen transportation links across the six South-West states.
According to Opeifa, the commission is pleased that the SWDC is building on groundwork earlier laid by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, which developed a master plan for regional rail expansion.
He noted that the NRC is open to working with federal agencies, state governments, and development commissions to deepen rail operations in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to expand national railway access.
Opeifa revealed that similar partnership proposals had recently come from other zones, including requests to revive Eastern routes and efforts by the Niger State Government to reactivate the northern segment of the Lagos–Kano line.
“What you are asking for is achievable,” he told the SWDC delegation.
“We have received your request for an operating track access licence, and our technical team and directors have been mandated to work with yours to produce the appropriate MoU.”
He noted that moving railway regulation from the exclusive list to the concurrent list has opened the sector to more players, ending the Federal Government’s monopoly and allowing states and private entities to participate more actively.
Earlier, Akinola said the commission’s engagement with the NRC was inspired by years of research and planning conducted by DAWN on transport infrastructure in the region.
He described regional rail connectivity as central to transforming the South-West economy, saying the commission had outlined short-, medium- and long-term infrastructure development plans.
For the short term, Akinola said the SWDC is seeking approval to operate some unserviced routes on a profit-sharing basis.
These include the Osogbo–Dagbolu–Erunmu line, which he said would support food supply to Lagos and facilitate the movement of consumer goods from Lagos to Oyo and Osun.
He also expressed interest in reviving the Idogo route, historically used to transport agricultural produce to Lagos markets.
“We want to incentivise agricultural activities in the region, and reopening the Idogo line will be a major step toward achieving this,” he said.
Looking to the medium term, Akinola revealed that the commission intends to request licences for new routes and attract private investors to run regional rail services.
He said the SWDC is also seeking land approvals for warehouse construction, which he described as vital for supporting the commercial and logistics components of the rail network.
“This model has already been tested in Osun State,” he said, noting that adequate storage facilities would help create a seamless supply chain for traders across the South-West.
Akinola assured that the initiative has the backing of all six South-West governors, adding that reviving the region’s rail network would significantly boost economic activity and ease the movement of goods and passengers.
