NRC, APMT flags off Container movement by rail from Lagos to Ibadan

In a renewed effort to decongest the seaport as well as reduce the containerised traffic moverment by road, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Tuesday flagged off cargo train movements from Lagos to Ibadan using reliable private sector firms as part of measures to ease train operations and increase its revenue.

Two different freight trains was launched this week and each is expected to move from Lagos to Ibadan axis three times every week on the standard gauge line.
On Monday, the NRC in collaboration with APM Terminals, Apapa resumed the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train with 35 containers departing the Lagos Port container terminal for Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking on Monday during the re-launch of the Lagos-Ibadan cargo train on the standard gauge rail, the managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the train haulage would take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with each train trip accommodating 35 wagons of 35 by 40ft or 35 wagons of 70 by 20ft containers or a mixture.

According to Opeifa, “I am delighted to officially welcome you to the flag-off of container movement from Apapa to Moniya in Ibadan on the standard gauge rail.
“Though NRC and APM Terminals have a long history of doing business of container traffic to places in the hinterland of Nigeria such as Kaduna, Kano, it is mainly on the narrow gauge lines”.

It would be recalled that, container traffic movement by rail on the standard gauge in and out of APM Terminals to Moniya freight yard in Ibadan commenced on September 2023 with the likes of Bueno Logistics and Transco Africa Logistics blazing the trail among other customers using the single transitional line in APMT.

“Two additional lines are at an advanced stage of completion in APMT which will bring the total lines within the APMT standard gauge corridor to three lines.
While this milestone event marks the commencement of container traffic expansion on the standard gauge rail Line from APMT Terminal to Moniya Ibadan Freight yard, this will facilitate the import and export of commodities with adequate convenience and hitch-free vehicle movement”.

Opeifa stressed the commitment of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to the revitalisation and modernisation project of the NRC for efficient rail system.
In his submission, “As part of the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President, this is one of the surest ways to address the cost of goods, the standard of living and multi-dimensional poverty,” he added.

On his part, thr Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, said the resumption of rail haulage would lead to the decongestion of the port terminals.

“We at the NSC understand that rail transport happens to be the cheapest and safest when it comes to trade,” he stated.
Representing APM Terminals, the terminal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, highlighted the improvement made to the latest cargo train service.
She said, “The new schedule ensures trains depart three times a week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays— providing businesses with greater predictability and efficiency”.

“Unlike the previous system, where trains departed only when fully loaded, the structured timetable allows customers to plan shipments in advance.
“Additionally, payments for the service have been streamlined, with customers now paying exclusively to APM Terminals Apapa, which will facilitate transactions with all relevant stakeholders”.

Speaking on the gypsum movement by train, in a post, Managing Director of Bueno Logistics Limited, Mazi Jetson Nwankwo, said the project commenced on Sunday February 9, 2025 with 23 wagons.
He explained that each of the wagons could accommodate 50-60 tonnes.
The train is departing with 23 wagons and each wagon takes 50-60 tonnes. And we will deliver within two and a half hours.” The train is safe, delivers in bulk and at a pocket-friendly rate”.

The train, he said, took off from ENL Apapa Port and headed for delivery at the Papalanto cement firm.

He said, “History is being made today as Bueno Logistics Limited, a pacesetter in rail-based logistics business, in collaboration with the NRC pioneered the movement of gypsum using the new standard gauge railway system from ENL Apapa Port to Papalanto, one of the leading cement companies in the country.” He concluded.

MIKE OCHONMA
Editor