LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a bid to enhance freight transportation and improve trade facilitation across the country, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in collaboration with APM Terminals Apapa, has relaunched the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train service.
The revived operation saw 35 containers departing the Lagos Port container terminal for Moniya in Ibadan, Oyo State, marking a renewed commitment to rail freight services.
The Lagos-Ibadan cargo train service initially commenced in September 2023 but was subsequently halted.
However, at the re-launch event on Monday, the Managing Director of NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, announced that the cargo train will now operate thrice weekly—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—transporting 35 wagons per trip, each carrying either 40-foot or 20-foot containers.
“I am delighted to officially welcome you to the flag-off of container movement from Apapa to Moniya in Ibadan on the standard gauge rail,” Opeifa stated during the ceremony.
He highlighted that while NRC and APM Terminals have previously handled container traffic on narrow gauge lines to cities such as Kaduna and Kano, this initiative signifies an expansion of rail freight services on the standard gauge.
The container movement to Moniya, which first launched in September 2023, saw logistics companies like Bueno Logistics and Transco Africa Logistics actively utilizing the service before it was temporarily halted.
Opeifa also revealed that two additional railway lines are nearing completion within APM Terminals, bringing the total number of standard gauge tracks at the facility to three. This expansion is expected to improve efficiency and increase cargo handling capacity.
“This milestone event marks the commencement of container traffic expansion on the standard gauge rail line from APMT Terminal to Moniya Ibadan Freight Yard. It will facilitate the import and export of commodities, ensuring convenience and hitch-free vehicle movement,” Opeifa added.
According to NRC records, the corporation moved 362,327 tons of containerized cargo, including imports and exports, via both standard and narrow gauge lines in 2024.
Opeifa emphasized that the Federal Government remains dedicated to the revitalization and modernization of Nigeria’s railway system as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
He noted that an efficient rail system is key to reducing the cost of goods, improving the standard of living, and tackling multidimensional poverty.
The relaunch was also attended by Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Pius Ukeyima Akutah, who commended the initiative for its potential to decongest Nigeria’s seaports and improve trade logistics.
“You will recall that this time last year, the NSC and the NRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the possibility of developing a rail transport system to support trade. Rail transport remains the cheapest and safest mode for moving goods,” Akutah stated.
He also praised President Tinubu for his continued support in advancing infrastructure projects that bolster trade facilitation.
Meanwhile, APM Terminals’ Chief Commercial Officer, Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, acknowledged the improvements made to the service since its initial launch and reassured stakeholders of greater efficiency in the future.
The resumption of the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train is expected to provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to road transport, reducing port congestion and enhancing the movement of goods between Lagos and the southwest region.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
