The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has renewed calls for deeper integration between the nation’s rail and port systems as part of efforts to improve freight movement and strengthen Nigeria’s logistics value chain.

Speaking at the quarterly stakeholders’ engagement of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), the Managing Director of NRC, Kayode Opeifa, stressed that ongoing reforms in the maritime sector and investments in deep seaports may continue to yield limited results without efficient rail connectivity.

Opeifa acknowledged existing collaboration between the railway corporation and port authorities but noted that more work is needed to fully optimise cargo movement, particularly from Lagos ports and across the eastern corridor to other parts of the country. He highlighted persistent bottlenecks in rail-based cargo evacuation and called for deliberate measures to improve operational efficiency.

According to him, enhancing freight movement through rail remains critical to building a reliable and cost-effective transport system.

He revealed plans to strengthen interconnectivity among ports, especially in the eastern region, through the development of new rail lines aimed at boosting trade and logistics integration.

Providing updates on infrastructure, the NRC boss disclosed that the Kaduna–Kano rail project is nearing completion. He also outlined Federal Government-approved initiatives to link major rail lines directly to key ports, including the extension of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge from Apapa to Tin Can Island Port and connections from Warri-Itakpe to Warri Port, as well as Port Harcourt Port in Onne.

He noted plans to connect the Lagos-Kano corridor to Baro Port on the narrow gauge, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a nationwide integrated freight network.

Opeifa emphasised that connecting all ports by rail remains a strategic pathway to economic growth, urging stakeholders—including truck operators—not to undermine the initiative but to complement it by facilitating last-mile delivery of goods.

The engagement brought together key stakeholders from the rail and maritime sectors to align strategies, strengthen partnerships, and chart a path toward a more integrated and efficient transport system in Nigeria. (Nigerian Tribune)