-as Opeifa believes integrated transport system key to Nigeria’s economic competitiveness

Funso OLOJO Editor 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has identified an integrated transportation and logistics system as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s economic resilience, reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian products.

Opeifa said an efficient transport network that connects production centres, seaports, industrial clusters, inland terminals and consumption markets would significantly reduce logistics costs, improve trade and stimulate economic growth.

He made this submission while speaking on the theme, “Scaling the Future: Building a Resilient and Efficient Mobility and Logistics Ecosystem in Nigeria,” at the BusinessDay Mobility and Logistics Conference held at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to him, persistent inefficiencies in Nigeria’s transportation network contribute to congestion, rising logistics costs, delayed deliveries, declining productivity and higher prices of goods and services.

He argued that rail transportation must occupy a strategic position in the development of an integrated national transport system, noting that improved connectivity across the different modes of transportation would translate into greater economic efficiency and competitiveness.

The NRC boss explained that rail offers high-capacity solutions for long-distance passenger and freight transportation, reduces pressure on highways and provides an important connection between seaports, industrial centres, inland terminals and urban markets.

He stressed that road, rail, maritime and air transportation should operate as complementary components of a unified logistics network rather than competing alternatives.

“Rail should not be viewed as a competitor to road, maritime or air transportation, but each should continue to develop as complementary components of an effective integrated transport system,” he said.

He noted that while road transportation remained essential for cargo collection and last-mile delivery, maritime transport facilitated international trade, while inland terminals supported cargo handling and distribution. Rail, he added, provided the high-capacity link connecting these facilities with production and consumption centres.

Opeifa maintained that seamless coordination among the various transportation modes would reduce avoidable logistics expenses, facilitate regional commerce, improve access to markets and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

Outlining the NRC’s strategic direction, the managing director highlighted the corporation’s track access policy, which allows private investors to explore opportunities in passenger and freight operations along the country’s railway corridors.

He also unveiled the corporation’s Vision 2:5:10:20, a strategic framework designed to optimise existing railway assets, revive viable dormant corridors, expand freight operations, deepen private-sector participation and progressively extend the national rail network.

Under the ambitious plan, the NRC is targeting an expansion of Nigeria’s railway network from approximately 4,000 kilometres to 10,000 kilometres within five years, with a long-term ambition of reaching about 20,000 kilometres.

“Our ambition is to consistently grow the networks from approximately 4,000 kilometres that we met, to 10,000 kilometres within five years and ultimately achieving about 20,000 kilometres over the long term.

“These are no doubt strategic targets that require sustained investment and implementation,” he said.

Opeifa identified the immediate priorities as improving the utilisation of the country’s two legacy narrow-gauge lines and three standard-gauge lines, restoring operational capacity, expanding freight services and strengthening connections between railway infrastructure, seaports and inland terminals.

He explained that maximising the performance of existing railway assets would provide a foundation for future expansion while improving the corporation’s capacity to support freight and passenger movement.

On ongoing and proposed railway infrastructure projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Opeifa disclosed that efforts were being made to extend the standard-gauge railway to Apapa Port and establish a connection to Tin Can Island Port.

The proposed connections, he said, were intended to improve cargo evacuation, reduce pressure on road infrastructure and strengthen the interface between Nigeria’s railway network and maritime trade facilities.

He further disclosed that the Kano-Maradi railway project was expected to be completed in 2027, while plans were underway for a central railway corridor linking the Warri-Itakpe line to Abuja.

According to him, the government also plans to commence construction of the Marina-Lekki railway line, alongside efforts to support the Kaduna-Kano inter-state train service and the proposed intra-state railway services of the Kano State Government.

He said the projects formed part of broader efforts to expand railway connectivity, improve passenger mobility and facilitate the movement of goods across the country.

Also speaking at the conference, the Director-General of the Africa Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC), Dr Obiora Madu, warned that small-scale businesses would continue to struggle unless Nigeria addressed the fragmentation and inefficiencies within its transportation and logistics networks.

Madu estimated that the country loses more than N3.6 trillion to inefficiencies and distortions in the transportation and logistics sector, arguing that an interconnected system would unlock significant economic opportunities.

“If we don’t get the logistics right, the small-scale businesses would not be optimised. We do not need digital islands, we do not need superlative infrastructure, what we need is connected systems,” he said.

He maintained that developing a resilient logistics ecosystem required more than the expansion of individual infrastructure components, stressing the importance of coordination, connectivity and the ability of the entire system to withstand disruptions.

Similarly, the Managing Director of JanksMay Global Services Ltd., Ifeanyi Onwuachu, identified persistent infrastructure deficits as a major constraint affecting small-scale operators in the logistics industry.

He said the difficulties confronting operators underscored the need for improved infrastructure and more efficient transportation connections to support business activities.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of BusinessDay, Dr Innocent Nna, described the Mobility and Logistics Conference as an important platform for examining persistent challenges in Nigeria’s logistics sector and exploring practical solutions.

Nna urged industry stakeholders to engage in constructive discussions on the gaps confronting the country’s transportation and logistics systems, with a view to identifying measures that would improve efficiency and strengthen the sector.

The conference brought together stakeholders across the transportation, logistics and business sectors to examine strategies for building an integrated, efficient and resilient mobility ecosystem capable of supporting economic growth and improving the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

Funso OLOJO, Editor 

For the first time in its 128 years of existence, the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC)  joins the global community to commemorate 2026 Customer Service Week from October 5 to 9, with a renewed commitment to putting passengers at the centre of its operations.

The week, being celebrated under the theme, “The Extra Mile,” marks a significant milestone for the 128-year-old Corporation, which is observing Customer Service Week for the first time in its history.

For the NRC, the celebration goes beyond appreciating its passengers. It is also an opportunity to recognise employees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to service delivery while reinforcing a culture of customer-centricity across the Corporation.

The initiative is in line with the vision of the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who has consistently emphasised the need to place passengers at the heart of the Corporation’s operations and improve their overall travel experience.

Opeifa said the experiences of the Corporation in recent times had further underscored the importance of listening to customers and responding more effectively to their needs.

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do. Their feedback, trust and partnership challenge us to keep improving and delivering value every day.

“Customer Service Week is an opportunity to recognise that relationship and remind ourselves that great service must go beyond expectations,” he said.

According to the NRC, the theme, “The Extra Mile,” reflects the changing expectations of modern train passengers and the need for service providers to go beyond routine obligations.

Going the extra mile, the Corporation noted, could mean listening more attentively to passengers, resolving complaints more quickly, providing clearer and timely information, anticipating customer needs, simplifying processes or demonstrating empathy when it matters most.

The NRC said the commitment would apply across all its operational areas nationwide, with emphasis on providing passengers with a consistent, responsive and dependable experience regardless of where or how they interact with the Corporation.

The Corporation also pledged to strengthen its customer-feedback mechanisms and establish a closer link between passenger insights and continuous improvements in service delivery.

It said its objective was to ensure that exceptional customer service becomes an everyday practice rather than an activity reserved for Customer Service Week.

“Every interaction presents an opportunity to listen better, respond faster, show genuine care and create greater value for our customers,” the Corporation stated.

For the NRC, therefore, “The Extra Mile” is more than a theme for a week-long celebration. It represents a commitment to making every passenger interaction count and ensuring that customers enjoy a safer, more responsive and rewarding experience throughout their journey on Nigerian trains.

Funso OLOJO Editor 

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), has donated two operational vehicles to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to strengthen security operations and enhance the protection of railway infrastructure and other critical national assets.

The vehicles were formally handed over to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

Presenting the vehicles, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, said the intervention was part of the state government’s continued support for security agencies and institutions operating within Lagos.

Ogunsan, who was accompanied by the Administrative Secretary of the Fund, Mr. Demola Lewis, said the vehicles would enhance the capacity of security personnel attached to the railway to respond promptly to vandalism, theft and other criminal activities along the railway corridor.

He commended the ongoing transformation at the NRC under Opeifa’s leadership, saying the state government considered it necessary to provide additional support to safeguard railway infrastructure and improve operational effectiveness.

The LSSTF chief urged the Nigeria Police Railway Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which are expected to deploy the vehicles for railway security operations, to ensure their judicious use.

He said the Fund had a monitoring mechanism to ensure that security assets provided through its interventions were deployed strictly for the purposes for which they were donated.

According to Ogunsan, responsible utilisation of the vehicles would encourage the state government and the Fund to provide additional support whenever necessary.

Responding, Opeifa expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government, particularly Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for its continued support for the NRC and its efforts to improve railway security and operations.

He also commended the leadership and staff of the LSSTF for their commitment, partnership and sustained support towards the safety and security of the railway system in Lagos.

Opeifa said the donation would significantly strengthen the capacity of security agencies attached to the railway to protect passengers, railway infrastructure and other critical assets.

He assured the Lagos State Government and the LSSTF that the vehicles would be deployed strictly for the purposes for which they were donated.

The NRC Managing Director also appealed to other state governments, particularly the 26 states where the Corporation has operational presence, to support efforts to protect railway infrastructure.

He stressed that stronger collaboration between the NRC, state governments and security agencies would facilitate faster responses to vandalism and other criminal activities affecting railway assets.

Opeifa also made a personal donation to the LSSTF and called on NRC employees, corporate organisations and residents of Lagos to continue supporting the Fund’s efforts to enhance security across the state.

Beyond the provision of the vehicles, he disclosed that the Lagos State Government had expressed readiness to rehabilitate some roads within the railway compound and install solar-powered streetlights after the completion of the ongoing works.

He further disclosed that work was ongoing on a major storm-water drainage project designed to channel water from the railway compound towards the Mile 2 lagoon.

According to him, the drainage project, which commenced earlier in the year, has significantly improved the environment around the railway compound and helped address the perennial flooding previously experienced during heavy rainfall.

Police, NSCDC pledge responsible use
Speaking on behalf of the security agencies, the representative of the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Railway Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Yahaya Usman, thanked the Lagos State Government and the LSSTF for the donation to the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC.

He assured that the vehicles would be deployed strictly for railway security operations and used responsibly to strengthen surveillance, patrol and rapid-response capabilities along the railway corridor.

The intervention further underscores the growing partnership between the NRC and the Lagos State Government in promoting safer railway operations, protecting critical infrastructure and improving the security of passengers and communities along the railway network.