The Nigerian Railway Corporation has formally presented a Permanent Operating Licence to the Lagos State Government, marking a shift in Nigeria’s rail transport sector after 128 years of the corporation being the country’s sole railway operator.
The licence, presented through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, authorises the Lagos State Government to operate rail services on the shared corridor under the Track Sharing Agreement and paves the way for the state to operate other rail systems.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, described the development as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s railway history, saying it signalled a transition from a monopoly to a more collaborative and regulated railway system.
Opeifa said, “For 128 years, since 1898, the Nigerian Railway Corporation has remained the sole developer and operator of railway services across Nigeria and, until recently, beyond our borders through rail connections with neighbouring countries.
“Today, we formally change that narrative not by abdicating our statutory roles and responsibilities, but by expanding our horizons and embracing the global best practice of encouraging multiple operators within a regulated rail system.”
