NRC and APM Terminals Expand Lagos-Ibadan Freight Services

 In a major boost for Nigeria’s transportation and logistics sector, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in collaboration with APM Terminals, has launched a new freight service from Apapa Port in Lagos to the Moniya Freight Yard in Ibadan, Oyo State. The initiative aims to improve the efficiency of cargo movement and decongest Lagos ports, which have long suffered from chronic gridlock.

During the flag-off ceremony held on Monday in Apapa, the Managing Director of NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, reiterated the importance of rail transportation in Nigeria’s economic development. He emphasized that the rail system is a crucial element of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to enhance trade logistics and ease the burden on the roads.

The service will operate three times a week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—transporting 35 wagons per trip. Each train can carry 35 by 40ft containers or 70 by 20ft containers, allowing for a significant reduction in road-based cargo traffic.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, applauded the initiative, stressing that rail transport remains the most cost-effective and secure mode of moving goods. He encouraged further government investments in rail infrastructure, recalling that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the NSC and NRC last year to develop a more integrated freight system.

This latest development follows a pilot phase in September 2023, during which companies such as Bueno Logistics and Transco Africa Logistics tested the efficiency of the rail corridor. Two additional rail lines within APM Terminals are nearing completion, expected to further enhance cargo movement capacity.

With Nigeria’s increasing demand for seamless logistics solutions, this freight expansion is expected to reduce operational costs for businesses, improve turnaround times, and provide a viable alternative to congested road networks.