The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating the seamless movement of containers by rail from Apapa Port in Lagos to Kaduna and Kano, in collaboration with Inland Containers Nigeria Ltd. (ICNL).
NRC’s Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lagos while receiving the ICNL management team, led by its Managing Director, Omotayo Dada.
Opeifa emphasized that the corporation is open to partnerships with major freight movers to enhance cargo transportation across the country. He noted that NRC had previously collaborated with APM Terminals (APMT) for container movement to the Inland Dry Port in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“The corporation will continue to design products for companies willing to use the rail for cargo movement. With the ICNL partnership, we aim to transport an additional 50 to 100 containers daily from Lagos to Kano via Apapa, Ijoko, Ilorin, Minna, and Kaduna,” he stated.
Addressing Challenges in Cargo Movement
The NRC’s Director of Operations and Commercial, Akin Osinowo, acknowledged ICNL as a longstanding client while highlighting past challenges that disrupted freight services, particularly on the narrow gauge tracks.
He assured stakeholders that key issues—such as insecurity along the Minna-Kaduna corridor and rail track damage caused by washouts—were being actively addressed through engineering interventions and federal government support.
Osinowo also revealed ongoing discussions with major manufacturers, including Dangote Group and BUA, to expand rail-based cargo transport. Additionally, he reaffirmed NRC’s commitment to serving Lafarge Africa by transporting cement from Ewekoro to Osogbo and Ilorin.
The NRC and ICNL have pledged to finalize a roadmap for the swift resumption of container freight services to Kaduna and Kano along the western rail corridor.
This development marks a significant step toward reviving rail freight operations, reducing road congestion, and enhancing supply chain efficiency in Nigeria.
