Railing on the Plateau:” Reviving Jos‑Kuru Rail Corridor

By Michael Peters

Under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Plateau State has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure initiative with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to revive the historic Jos–Kuru narrow‑gauge rail corridor. Branded as NRC Railing with the States, this federal–state partnership aims to restore rail services, unlock economic potential, and reconnect Plateau to the national rail network — a historic line that once served as a vital artery for passengers and goods across the Middle Belt.

Plateau, would be joining Lagos, which, long before the late President Muhammadu Buhari amended the Nigerian Railway Act in 2023, had keyed into the reactivation of the rail corridor within their territories, which was captured under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu as railing with the states, which aims to see how the states could join hands with the Federal Government to optimize rail transportation even if on the legacy lines within their territories.

For decades, the Jos‑Kuru narrow‑gauge corridor, built during the colonial era had fallen into disrepair. With unusable tracks, the trains had ceased operation, and the corridor abandoned, leaving the communities along the route disconnected. Resolute to erase this legacy of infrastructural neglect, Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration prioritized rail reactivation as part of broader infrastructure renewal.

In April 2025, the Plateau State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to restore and operate the Jos–Kuru rail line. The agreement, signed in Lagos, formalized the collaboration, where Plateau State would support with funding and coordination, while NRC would lead technical implementation, rehabilitation, and eventual operations of the old tracks.

At the signing, Governor Mutfwang, who was represented by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Jatau Davou, emphasized that the rail revival was about “restoring hope and economic prosperity.” The NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the partnership and urged other states that has the legacy tracks in their domain to follow the example of Plateau State by reviving the old train culture as an alternative means of transportation to their people.

The rail reactivation initiative under Mutfwang’s leadership is anchored upon some basic strategic goals:

Reconnect Plateau State to national rail infrastructure, reducing dependency on overland road transport and improving mobility.

Stimulate economic development, facilitating trade, transport of goods, and tourism across Plateau communities.

Generate employment and empower locals, through rehabilitating rail infrastructure, operations, and ancillary services and lastly, reinstating a once‑vibrant corridor to rebuild identity and public confidence.

Though officially narrow‑gauge, the Jos–Kuru route spur is a pilot to demonstrate the viability of rail transportation in Plateau. The rehabilitation programme includes:

Refurbishment of tracks, sleepers, signals, and stations along the corridor.

Clearing vegetation, repairing bridges and culverts, and enforcing safety standards.

The state in collaboration with the NRC is also expected to train local maintenance crews on maintaining the basic standards.

Establishing stop points at key Plateau towns to support passenger services.

Public-facing outreach has included social media clips promoting the partnership under the theme “Jos to the world on the rehabilitated narrow‑gauge”, reinforcing the rebranded corridor as a symbol of “we mooooove” progress.

Governor Mutfwang, sworn into office in May 2023, has pursued a vigorous infrastructure strategy beyond rail. He released ₦2 billion counterpart funding for over 331 km of rural road construction under RAAMP (Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project), connecting communities across Mangu, Shendam, Bassa, Barkin-Ladi, and others.

His administration has also kicked off agro-logistics hubs, composite markets, and agricultural training programmes, positioning Plateau as a future-ready agro‑economic hub.

These projects underscore a unified vision: rail is part of greater economic activation and rural integration across Plateau State.

As the regulator and operator, the Nigerian Railway Corporation brings technical and operational capacity and expertise to the partnership:

NRC oversees corridors such as Abuja–Kaduna, Warri–Itakpe, and Lagos–Ibadan, on the standard gauges, just as it has two legacy narrow gauge lines, known as the East and West Lines.

NRC Managing Director Dr. Opeifa has underscored that the federal–state collaboration is vital for the optimization of localized rail capacity restoration, and demonstrate scalable connectivity even amid sector reforms.

The Jos–Kuru rail corridor revival offers multiple benefits; among which could be the improved mobility and connectivity: easier access to Plateau’s capital Jos, urban centres and inter-state links; boost local trade and small business: movement of farm produce, commodities, and goods becomes more affordable and efficient.

Boost tourism potential, Plateau’s scenic landscapes may attract visitors if transport infrastructure is reliable, create multiple layers of jobs such as railway maintenance, operations, training, stations, and services.

The returning rail service after decades, signals positive momentum and enhances public morale.

Project coordination risks federal-state alignment, bureaucracy, and timely approvals must be managed efficiently.

Security context:

Plateau State has experienced periodic insecurity, ensuring rail corridor safety will demand coordination with security agencies.

Governor Mutfwang’s initiative aligns with broader federal rail ambitions which was meant to expand rail corridors across the country, including Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Port Harcourt–Maiduguri, and the flagship Kano–Maradi standard‑gauge rail corridor funded partly by the African Development Bank (AfDB), targeting completion by 2026.

While these are standard‑gauge mega projects, reviving narrow‑gauge routes like Jos–Kuru demonstrates rail’s grassroots potential and underscores regional development.

The AfDB funding relates to standard‑gauge corridors and does not directly impact NRC’s involvement in subnational rail reactivation like Plateau’s project.

While full details on project schedule and train fares have not been publicly disclosed, expected next steps include:

Physical track rehabilitation work, bridge and station repairs-mobilisation.

Governor Mutfwang’s broader two-year infrastructure review (published last month) positions rail as part of a multi-sectoral development thrust in Plateau, including roads, markets, education and health infrastructure—all feeding into longer-term stability and prosperity.

The “Railing on the Plateau” initiative offers a template for how sub-national governments can partner the NRC to revitalize the otherwise dormant rail corridors.

State-level ownership: by committing counterpart resources and coordination, state governments can bring dormant corridors back to life.

Federal technical leadership: with NRC’s engineering and operational capacity, all narrow‑gauge lines can be made viable.

Localized yet scalable: revival of Jos–Kuru may inspire similar projects in other states, provided alignment and resources are readily available.

Deepening connectivity: linking Plateau into national—and eventually regional—rail networks helps diversify transport modes across Nigeria.

Conclusion

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s Railing on the Plateau is a bold project that is aimed at rebuilding the historical Jos–Kuru rail corridor in partnership with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Far beyond metal tracks, this symbolizes a restoration of dignity, connectivity, and opportunity a commitment to economic revival through infrastructure.

If successful, the Railing on the Plateau project could become a celebrated case of state government’s revival in Nigeria, demonstrating that decentralised initiative combined with federal technical support can deliver tangible public benefit. In a nation expanding its standard-gauge corridors, Plateau’s narrow-gauge reboot is a reminder that rail infrastructure, whether modern or legacy, remains a powerful enabler for community integration, commerce, and cohesion.