JUST IN: Nigerian Railway Corporation Moves 3.89 Million Passengers, Generates ₦7.77 Billion in 2025
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) recorded significant passenger traffic in 2025, transporting 3,888,661 passengers nationwide and generating ₦7.77 billion in passenger revenue during the year.
The figures were released in the latest rail transportation report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which monitors the performance of Nigeria’s rail transport sector.
According to the report, passenger movement on Nigeria’s rail network remained strong throughout the year, reflecting increasing reliance on train services as an alternative to road transportation.
In the first quarter of 2025, the rail system transported 929,553 passengers, generating approximately ₦1.95 billion in revenue. Passenger traffic increased in the second quarter, with 989,793 passengers and revenue rising to ₦2.28 billion.
The upward trend continued in the third quarter, when the NRC moved 1,028,839 passengers, generating about ₦1.94 billion. However, the fourth quarter recorded a slight decline in both ridership and earnings, with 940,476 passengers and revenue of ₦1.60 billion.
Several major rail corridors contributed significantly to the passenger figures, including the Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, and Warri, Itakpe railway lines. These routes have become increasingly popular among travelers due to improved rail infrastructure, rising fuel costs, and security concerns on major highways.
Rail transport has gradually regained public confidence in recent years as the government continues to invest in the modernization and expansion of the country’s rail network.
The Federal Government has continued to prioritize rail development as part of broader efforts to improve national transportation infrastructure. Funds have been allocated in recent budgets for railway rehabilitation, acquisition of new rolling stock, and expansion of rail lines to connect more cities.
