NRC Targets Zamfara Rail Service Revival, Unveils Vision To Modernise Network

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to reactivate abandoned railway corridors as part of a broader strategy to modernize the nation’s rail network and restore services to states that have been without rail connectivity for decades.

Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to the NRC headquarters in Lagos.

Opeifa outlined the corporation’s Vision 2-5-10-20 development framework, which seeks to drive the expansion and modernization of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure. He revealed that concrete steps are underway to restore rail services to Zamfara State before the end of the year through the reactivation of the Kaduna-Nguru-Kaura Namoda corridor.

The first phase of the vision prioritizes optimizing existing legacy lines, he said. The corporation is also championing a freight-by-rail revolution and strengthening its “Railing with the States” initiative, which enables state governments to leverage railway infrastructure for economic growth while improving connectivity between rail corridors and the nation’s seaports.

Looking ahead, Opeifa disclosed that the NRC plans to begin transitioning from diesel-powered locomotives to cleaner energy sources such as gas within the next five years, subject to resource availability. He also stated that the corporation aims to double Nigeria’s rail assets by 2035.

The NRC boss noted that the railway sector could have achieved greater milestones if corruption had not historically impeded its development. He therefore appealed to the ICPC to organize a capacity-building programme for the corporation’s senior management staff to strengthen their understanding of compliance standards and prevent errors of judgment.

Opeifa identified vandalism of railway infrastructure as one of the corporation’s most pressing challenges, stressing that the destruction of critical rail assets continues to exert pressure on operations and service delivery. As part of awareness efforts, he presented anti-vandalism sweatshirts to the ICPC delegation bearing the inscription: “Rails and railway assets are critical national treasures and not scraps.”

He emphasized that the corporation maintains a strict internal disciplinary regime, warning that any staff found culpable of collusion or sabotage faces immediate dismissal. Opeifa, however, commended the dedication and resilience of NRC staff—particularly engineers—who, he said, have ensured uninterrupted rail services despite prevailing operational challenges.

Speaking earlier, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for the Lagos Office, Mr. Alexander Chukwumah, said the ICPC is willing to support the corporation by providing training programmes for its workforce to help them identify and avoid practices that could expose them to corruption-related offences.

He said the initiative falls within the Commission’s public education and enlightenment mandate, aimed at encouraging public institutions to uphold integrity and avoid corruption. Chukwumah urged NRC management to work closely with the corporation’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), noting that the unit’s members have been trained to detect early warning signs that could help prevent minor lapses from escalating into major institutional crises.