₦airaland Forum

Today, I and the Nigerian Railway Corporation NRC Management Visit Abia State, Plan Strategic Partnership with Rivers, Abia, and Other States to Revive Smooth Rail Services

In a significant move towards revitalizing Nigeria’s rail transport system, I, alongside the management team of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), visited Abia State as part of a broader initiative to foster regional collaboration. The visit underscores ongoing efforts to establish strategic partnerships with Rivers, Abia, and other key states aimed at restoring and enhancing smooth rail services across the country.

During the visit, the delegation engaged with state officials and stakeholders to discuss infrastructural upgrades, service improvements, and the integration of rail transport into regional development plans. This initiative aligns with the federal government's vision of modern, efficient, and accessible rail transport that supports economic growth and mobility.

The NRC is optimistic that with strong cooperation from state governments and local communities, the railway sector will experience a new era of functionality, safety, and reliability.

In continuation of our Eastern District working tour, we visited Abia State to deepen Strategic Partnership with Rivers, Abia, and Other States to Reposition the NRC for better Rail Services

In a significant move towards revitalisation of the Nigeria rail transport system, I, alongside the management team of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), visited Abia State as part of a broader initiative to foster regional collaboration. The visit underscores ongoing efforts to establish strategic partnerships with Rivers, Abia, and other key states aimed at restoring and enhancing smooth rail services across the country.

During the visit, the delegation engaged with state officials and stakeholders to discuss infrastructural upgrades, service improvements, and the integration of rail transport into regional development plans. This initiative aligns with the federal government's vision of modern, efficient, and accessible rail transport that supports economic growth and mobility.

The NRC is optimistic that with strong cooperation from state governments and local communities, the railway sector will experience a new era of functionality, safety, and reliability.

Kicked off our Familiarization Tour of the Eastern District with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Management in Rivers State yesterday 15th of April 2025

From facility inspections to staff engagement, we’re taking a closer look at operations on ground to ensure improved service delivery and stronger collaboration across the region.

Stay tuned as we continue the tour across key locations in the Eastern District!

#NRC #EasternDistrictTour #RiversState #RailwayDevelopment #TeamWork #Infrastructure
#RenewedHopeIsHere

naptu2:
I'll explain this again.

1) Western Line: The Western Line was the first line that was built by the Colonial Government. The primary reason for building it was to transport raw materials and agricultural goods like Al-Hassan Dantata's groundnuts from Kano to the port in Lagos.

The line begins at the Lagos Terminus in Iddo (there's also a branch line to the Apapa Port) and goes through Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna and terminates in Kano. It is a narrow gauge line.

The Western line began with the Lagos-Ibadan line which was built between 1891 and 1896, it reached Kano in 1912 and it was later extended to Nguru in 1930.


2) Eastern Line: The Eastern Line was primarily built to move coal from Enugu to the port at Port Harcourt. Port Harcourt was also built for the same reason (to serve as a port for the shipment of coal). Coal was shipped to Great Britain and to the power plant at Ijora in Lagos.

The Eastern Line was extended to Jos, to move tin from the tin mines there and it was also connected to the Western Line in Kaduna. The Government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa extended the Eastern Line to Maiduguri. It is a narrow gauge line.

The Eastern Line began with the Port-Harcourt to Enugu Line that was built between 1913 and 1916. It was extended to Kaduna in 1927 and it was later extended to Maiduguri between 1958 and 1964.

3) Central Line: The Central Line was constructed by the government of General Ibrahim Babangida (construction began in 1987). It was built to convey iron from the iron mines at Itakpe to the steel mill at Ajaokuta and to convey the steel from Ajaokuta to Warri Port. It is a standard gauge line. The line was not completed.


There have been plans to build new standard gauge lines on the western and eastern axis, along the same corridor as the old narrow gauge lines.

The government of President Goodluck Jonathan began the Kaduna-Abuja rail line on the Western Axis. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari completed it and also built the Lagos-Ibadan line on the Western axis. The Government is currently building the Kano-Kaduna leg of the Western Line. When that is completed, all that will be left is the Ibadan-Ilorin and Ilorin-Abuja segments of the line.


The Government of Muhammadu Buhari also completed the Warri-Itakpe Line (the Central Line). There are plans to extend it to Abuja.

The Muhammadu Buhari Administration had declared that it would focus on completing existing projects, rather than starting new ones and so it focused on completing the Western and Central Lines. There is also a plan to build a standard gauge Eastern Line (Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri) but that has not commenced yet (which has caused annoyance among people of the North-East and South-East).


There is a proposal to build a coastal line, from Lagos to Calabar, but it hasn't been built yet. Critics complain that the colonialists were only interested in exploiting resources from Nigeria, rather than giving Nigerians good infrastructure and that's why they built rail lines from the hinterland in the north, to the ports in the south. For example, the critics point out that if you want to go from Lagos to Enugu by rail, you'd first have to go all the way up to Kaduna, before you can get to Enugu.

When I heard this criticism back in the 1980s, I often asked, "So why haven't we built it? The colonialists have been gone since 1960, so why haven't we built a rail line from east to west? We can't keep blaming them".

naptu2:
The Buhari Administration began the Kaduna - Kano leg of the Western Line and the Tinubu Administration will finish it.

President Tinubu has gone to China to finalise the deal for the construction of the Ibadan - Ilorin and Ilorin - Abuja legs of the line.

The idea to build the Eastern and Western standard gauge lines was conceived during the administration of President Obasanjo. Yar'Adua did not follow through, but Goodluck Jonathan continued it.

The Central Line was conceived during the administration of President Shehu Shagari. It was started by the Babangida Administration and finished by the Buhari Administration. However, the Buhari Administration proposed that it should be extended to Abuja.

I'll tell you about Lord Harcourt later.

naptu2:
The Eastern Line goes through places like Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Enugu, Makurdi, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri.

The Western Line goes through places like Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jebba, Minna, Kaduna and Kano.

The Central Line goes through Warri, Abraka, Agbor, Igbanke, Agenebode, Uromi, Ajaokuta and Itakpe.

naptu2:
Dr Kayode Opeifa (DKO) @DrKayodeOpeifa



https://x.com/DrKayodeOpeifa/status/1912626934309060938?t=DMm3ExJt5HLVa4lc5Jvv7Q&s=19[/quote]Lagos Boy representing

naptu2:
Dr Kayode Opeifa was:

🔴 special adviser on transportation to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola from 2007 - 2011.

🔴 Lagos State transport commissioner from 2011 - 2015

🔴 FCT transport secretary 2017 - 2019

🔴 vice chairman and team leader of the Presidential Committee on Clearing of Apapa Port and Access Roads 2019 - 2023

🔴 managing director of the Abuja Urban Mass Transit Company Ltd. (AUMTCO) 2023 - 2025.

He was appointed managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation on January 22nd, 2025.

SeeWahala:
I hope by the end of the tour they won't carry the railway line and mount it along akwa ibom and cross river then later come to the media and claim it is for the South East

All these their abracadabra no go work for tilumbu in 2027 where we are concerned

blacksam01:
Fashola did more eye service than this man... After every every... No road he did in the south east...

Abegi park well. Mr. Minister.. this show is all about trip allowance

naptu2:
Carry railway line (a rail line that has existed for almost 100 years) to Cross River and Akwa Ibom

Why do people keep writing gibberish on my thread? Do they know that it is not a good look?

blacksam01:
Fashola did more eye service than this man... After every every... No road he did in the south east...

Abegi park well. Mr. Minister.. this show is all about trip allowance

SeeWahala:
I hope by the end of the tour they won't carry the railway line and mount it along akwa ibom and cross river then later come to the media and claim it is for the South East

All these their abracadabra no go work for tilumbu in 2027 where we are concerned

Hotfreezing:
They gave you roads, you cried about bridges.
They gave you bridges, you cried over roads.

The 2nd Niger bridge Fashola have you is what your parents have been crying over for the past 5 decades. You slaves for PDP for 24 years, yet they couldn't give you. GEJ was President for more than half a decade, he couldn't give you.

Today, you senseless people are talking nonsense about Fashola.

MrPresident1:
You people should do high speed rail interconnecting Nigerian cities. Collect money and expertise from China.

Imagine all the major cities and state capitals connected by rail, just awesome!

blacksam01:
I pity the child that calls u daddy... Dts the much I can say... Grow up!

Hotfreezing:
This is the reason Ekpa ties your mothers every Monday.
Rail tracks that were laid when your ancestors were still learning how to make human sounds is what you are saying they will remove.

You are genetically unintelligent and naturally senseless. Stick to petty trading and leave advanced tech alone. Your brains can't comprehend it.

SeeWahala:
So according to you, a RoNu loyalist . . . Railway tracks built before the world war era is what you're calling "advanced tech" ?

Mschew that's why the useless bwala said once you join their club you immediately lose all sense of reasoning 😔

goodnessme1:
Federal government of Nigeria build railway throughout regions in Nigeria except South East, instead they build for Niger Republic that's another country.

But foolish people will be expecting Igbo youths to join and die for Nigeria army.

Benwallt:
They will soon burn it to the ground.

StreetFight:
Cry well well.

Nnamdi Azikiwe was President, he should have built it for you.
Alex Ekwueme was VP, he should have built it for you
Goatluck Ebelechukwu Jonathan was President, he should have built it

Even the 2nd Niger Bridge, your sons could not built it, we Yorubas built it for you.

You should be ashamed of yourselves instead of continuously crying like a baby