The Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has announced that the federal government will soon unveil a major railway expansion plan, with new lines set to connect multiple cities across the country.
Speaking on Saturday during ‘Sunrise Daily’, a programme on Channels Television, Opeifa stated that the forthcoming railway lines will reach more cities “than we have ever seen”.
“States are even receiving grants from the national government to develop their rail lines, and Lagos State is utilising track access on the Red Line,” he said.
“Kaduna is coming on board very soon, Niger is supporting us on the narrow gauge, except for the recent Mokwa flooding that caused disruption. The plan was to take rail, this festival, three days ago, to Minna, Ilorin, and Offa, so they are supporting that initiative.”
The NRC Managing Director also noted Ogun State’s rail link and highlighted new projects, including the Jos-Bukuru line in Plateau State.
“That is because this government supported the removal of rail from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. So, state governments can now not only develop rail on their own, but they are also being supported by grants,” he explained.
“In the current budget, 400 billion naira was allocated to support states. I know some states have already benefited.”
“What this government is doing is ensuring that the burden is no longer solely on the national government. However, the national government still owes a duty to every Nigerian to connect the cities.”
He added that the government is developing rail infrastructure across all regions, with plans nearly finalised for the South-West, and progress being made in the South-East and North-East.
