By Abuja’s Folarin Kehinde
As gas infrastructure opens along important corridors, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced intentions to use LNG-powered trains and extend the country’s rail network to 10,000 kilometers over the next five years.
In a monitored televised interview, NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa said that the company has finished its LNG concept phase and successfully demonstrated the technology for a month, which is a significant step toward cleaner, more efficient rail operations.
“We finished the LNG concept and gave a month-long demonstration. He stated, “We will use gas to generate electricity to power the trains and move gas products as soon as we get gas systems to the Lagos–Ibadan and Warri–Itakpe corridors, where gas is readily available, and we resolve all regulatory issues.”
Adopting LNG, according to Opeifa, will greatly reduce operating costs while enhancing energy security for the rail industry and is consistent with Nigeria’s gas expansion plan.
In addition to the energy transformation, the head of the NRC presented a bold proposal for national rail network expansion.
He claims that although Nigeria now has about 4,000 kilometers of rail tracks, the goal is to reach 10,000 kilometers in the next five years and roughly 20,000 kilometers in the next eighteen to twenty years.
We intend to more than double the track length to roughly 10,000 kilometers over the course of the next five years. “We want to get Nigeria to about 20,000 kilometers of rail lines by another ten years after that,” he stated.
Opeifa emphasized that significant private sector involvement is necessary to meet these goals and that government finances are insufficient to cover the necessary level of investment.
“We welcome cooperation and concessions from the private sector. As is done throughout the world, the government is prepared to offer sovereign guarantees for investments. Because our budget cannot support the rail system on its own, it is open,” he said.
He further disclosed that because the rail line generates economic activity, host communities along the Warri–Itakpe corridor urged that train operations continue despite security concerns.
In order to facilitate smooth travel from the South-South to the North, Opeifa stated that the NRC is planned significant network expansions, including the completion of the Lagos–Kano line, the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri corridor, and the connection of Ajaokuta to Abuja.
In order to maximize the utilization of rail assets, the NRC is also working with the governments of a number of states, including Lagos, Zamfara, Plateau, Niger, and Ogun. He claims that fresh chances in the industry are already being used by private entrepreneurs.
“Private sector companies are now obtaining licenses to operate on our rails. One of them is CCEC Nigeria Limited, not China. There are now about 28 logistics firms with licenses to transport cargo from Apapa Port.
We will grant you access to our tracks if you have the means to bring in locomotives and rolling stock. The economy gains once the rails are in use, according to Opeifa.
He went on to say that there has been a lot of interest from investors, pointing out that a number of licenses have already been obtained in recent weeks. He characterized this as a sign of confidence in Nigeria’s developing gas-powered rail future.
