By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to introduce trains powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), a move intended to reduce operating costs and improve energy security for the rail sector.
The corporation also aims to expand the national rail network to 10,000 kilometres within the next five years, particularly as gas infrastructure is developed along key routes.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, revealed these plans during an interview, noting that the corporation has completed the conceptual phase for LNG and successfully demonstrated the technology for one month.
Opeifa stated, “We have completed the LNG concept and demonstrated it for one month. Once gas systems are in place along the Lagos–Ibadan and Warri–Itakpe corridors, where gas is readily available, and all regulatory matters are resolved, we will use gas to generate electricity to power trains and transport gas products.”
He emphasised that adopting LNG supports Nigeria’s national gas expansion agenda and will significantly lower operating costs while bolstering energy security for railways.
Beyond the shift in energy sources, the NRC chief outlined an ambitious strategy for expanding the national rail network.
According to him, Nigeria currently has approximately 4,000 kilometres of rail track, but the target is to increase this to 10,000 kilometres within five years, and to roughly 20,000 kilometres within the next 18 to 20 years.
“In the next five years, we hope to more than double the length of track to about 10,000 kilometres. Within a further decade after that, we aim to reach about 20,000 kilometres of rail lines,” he said.
Opeifa reiterated that meeting these targets will require substantial private-sector involvement, as government budgets alone cannot cover the necessary investment.
“Our doors are open to the private sector for concessions and other forms of partnership. The government is prepared to provide sovereign guarantees for investments, as is standard practice internationally. The rail system is open for collaboration because our budget alone cannot fund this scale of development,” he explained.
He also noted that, despite security challenges, communities along the Warri–Itakpe corridor have urged the continuation of train services due to the economic benefits brought by the rail line.
Opeifa added that the NRC is implementing digital systems and planning significant network expansions. These include completing the Lagos–Kano line, the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri corridor, and linking Ajaokuta to Abuja to enable seamless travel from the South-South to the North.
The NRC is also working with several state governments, including Lagos, Zamfara, Plateau, Niger, and Ogun, to maximise the use of rail infrastructure. Private operators are already entering the sector, with about 28 logistics companies licensed to transport goods from Apapa Port.
“We now have private-sector operators obtaining licences to run on our tracks. One example is CCEC Nigeria Limited—not to be confused with China. Approximately 28 logistics firms are already approved to move goods from Apapa Port,” he said.
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