Nigeria wants to become West Africa’s logistics hub, and the presidency is pointing at railway modernisation as one of the key backbones.

If rail works, moving goods gets cheaper, safer, and faster than doing everything by road. But this is Nigeria; there’s progress, but there are still gaps.

The presidency is pushing for modern rail so we can move containers out of the ports and across the country without clogging motorways.

Currently, freight volumes are climbing (from a small base). Official stats show rail cargo hit 143,759 tons in Q2 2024, up from 56,936 tons in Q2 2023—evidence that shippers are testing rail again.


What’s Coming (and Where)

  • Kaduna ⇄ Kano (standard gauge) funding got a boost. China Development Bank released part of the loan this year, after delays slowed work. This link connects the North directly into the Lagos–Kano corridor and, by extension, to the ports.
  • Kano ⇄ Maradi (Niger Republic) is advancing. Government updates cite big jumps in completion and set phased targets toward 2027, aiming to pull cross-border trade onto rail.
  • Port Harcourt ⇄ Maiduguri (eastern corridor) has sections open. Narrow-gauge rehab has started operations on some completed sections, with more segments under work. If this corridor stabilises, it helps the South-South/South-East and the North-East.


Why Rail Matters for Everyday Logistics

1. Cost

A single train moves what dozens of trucks carry. The roads suffer less damage, plus shipping rates drop; savings can be shared between importers, wholesalers, and the final customer. 

2. Speed & predictability

Fixed rail timetables plus fewer checkpoints mean tighter ETAs compared to some road corridors.

3. Safety

Rail reduces exposure to highway banditry on certain routes. That’s a big deal for high-value goods moving from ports to inland cities.


Bottom Line

Rail is not a silver bullet, but the direction is right: port-to-hinterland by train, last-mile by truck/van/bike.

Freight deliveries are back on Lagos–Ibadan, volumes are ticking up from a low base, funding is landing for key northern links, and eastern rehab is inching forward.