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NRC plans to adopt use of natural gas for train operations .

— listed among 10 revenue earners for federal government.
Gloria Odion
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has concluded plans to adopt the use of Liquidfied Natural Gas(LNG) to power its locomotives.
The plan, according to the NRC, expected to cut costs of operations and enhance clean environment.
Dr Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of NRC who disclosed this in an interview, revealed that the Corporation has successfully demonstrated this technology for one month , signalling a major step toward cleaner, more efficient rail operations.
He disclosed that Lagos–Ibadan and Warri–Itakpe  will be used as the pilot routes for the new technology.
“We have completed the LNG prove of concept and demonstrated it for one month.
“As soon as we get gas systems to the Lagos–Ibadan and Warri–Itakpe corridors, where gas is readily available, and resolve all regulatory issues, we will use gas to generate electricity to power the trains,” Opeifa declared.
Opeifa noted that adopting LNG aligns with Nigeria’s gas expansion agenda and will significantly cut operating costs while improving energy security for the rail sector.
Meanwhile, the NRC boss claimed that the Corporation has been listed amongst the top 10 contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the year 2025.
Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) latest report for 2025, Dr Opeifa said the corporation came tops among revenue generating Federal MDAs that is contributing to the growth of the nation’s GDP.
Opeifa however listed vandalism, washouts and poor funding as the biggest challenge of the corporation in the outgone year, insisting that though the Federal Government has been very magnanimous in giving the NRC more than it generates, yet, more funding, he said ,is needed to enable the corporation operate optimally.
The NRC MD,who disclosed that both the narrow and standard gauge are working in Nigeria, said plans are on to embark on aggressive recovery of locomotives, wagons and other rolling stocks in order to improve on rail efficiency.
Opeifa also outlined an ambitious expansion plan for the national rail network.
 He noted that the corporation would soon unveil its national rail roadmap to expand the national rail network from about 4,000 to 10,000 kilometres over the next five years.
According to him, Nigeria currently has about 4,000 kilometres of rail tracks, but the target is to reach 10,000 kilometres within the next five years and about 20,000 kilometres in the next 20 years.
“In the next five years, we hope to double the length of tracks to about 10,000 kilometres. By another 10 years after that, we want to move Nigeria to about 20,000 kilometres of rail lines,” he said.
He stressed that achieving these targets will require substantial private-sector participation, adding that government budgets alone cannot fund the scale of investment required for the rail sector.
“Our doors are open to the private sector for concessioning and other partnerships.
” The government is willing to provide sovereign guarantees for railway investments as is done globally. The rail system is open because our budget alone cannot fund it,” he said.
He revealed that despite security concerns, the rail has continued to move, lauding the team of railway engineers and other artisans whose expertise have continued to sustain railway operations across the country.
 He urged for community ownership of railway assets as the only deterrence to vandalization adding that while the corporation, assisted by the security operatives would continue to fine tune the security architecture, there is need for community ownership, especially along the Warri-Itakpe axis, where he lamented that the corporation have had to replace every inch of the kilometer of train tracks due to the activities of vandals on the route.
Looking ahead, Opeifa said the NRC is introducing digital systems and planning major network expansions, including the completion of the Lagos–Kano line, the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri corridor, and the linking of Ajaokuta to Abuja to enable seamless travel from the Southern part of Nigeria to the North.
The NRC, he added, is collaborating with several state governments, including Lagos, Zamfara, Plateau, Niger and Ogun, to boost the use of rail assets adding that the corporation would be willing to work with partners, including state and the private sector.
Already, some private operators are already taking advantage of new opportunities in the sector, he said.
“We now have private sector operators getting licences to run on our tracks.
” About 28 logistics companies including the CCEC Nigeria Limited, are already licensed to move goods from Apapa Port either to Oyingbo, or Papalanto, Kajola, Omi Adio and Moniya, and Osogbo.
“If you have the resources to bring in locomotives and rolling stock, we will give you access to our tracks at no extra charge because we know that once the tracks are in use, the economy benefits,” Opeifa said.
Opeifa, who described what he met a year ago as a railway that was under the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), added that with the cooperation of the workers, the railway has moved out of the ICU and is now ready to fly.
He added that the corporation has revived investor’s confidence and interest in the rail sector, noting that several licences have already been taken up in recent weeks, a development he described as a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s evolving rail future.
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Customs

Again, Apapa Customs intercepts, seizes two containers laden with Codeine syrup worth N3.4 billion

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
In what has now become a routine exercise, the Apapa customs command of the Nigeria Customs Service has once again intercepted harmful substance suspected to be Codeine syrup.
The latest seizure was made barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,  declared that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation
In a swift follow-up operation on Sunday, March 15th,  2026, the Command, in a joint collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted and seized two containers laden with a total number of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of Codeine-containing Syrup (CSP Codeine) carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port.
Cumulatively, the seizures have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Naira (₦3,398,000,000.00) only.
The details of the seizures arevas follows:  a Container No. MRKU 3816476 found to contain 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5′ Bullet Insulated Hotspot and  Container No. TGBU 5399178 was found to contain 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole.
 Both containers have been converted to seizure in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as amended.
Speaking on the latest interception, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizure serves as a clear demonstration of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the directives and vision of the CGC.
“This fresh seizure, coming just five days after the CGC’s visit and strong warning to criminal elements, is a direct response to his charge on us.
“We are fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he stated.
He commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support in the successful operation.
Comptroller Oshoba maintained that the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in its resolve to protect public health, safeguard national security and facilitate only legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling activities.
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Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method 

Gloria Odion, Reporter
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.
This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.
However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.
In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.
“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.
“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:
” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.
” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.
” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.
“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.
“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
“This directive restores the previous access  gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.
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Headlines

NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso  vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.
The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.
According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed  to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.
He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.
Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.
Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.
Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.
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