The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has declared the imminent launch of rapid services on the narrow-gauge connecting Kano and Lagos.
The announcement about the revival of train operations on the Kano-Lagos narrow gauge surfaced in a recent social media update by the NRC on its official X handle last Saturday.
A post on X from NRC conveyed the message: “Expect the initiation of Kano-Lagos train services soon.”
In conjunction with the textual information, the NRC’s X post featured a brief video clip showcasing a locomotive undergoing a trial run on the railway tracks.
In a related social media update, the NRC mentioned the completion of significant repairs on the previously damaged sections of the Kano-Lagos narrow gauge, solidifying the anticipation of the return of express train services on this route.
“The narrow-gauge Train services will soon be fully operational, facilitating the transportation of goods and services across the nation for the benefit of the Nigerian masses,” read the tweet, accompanied by footage of a test-run.
Earlier, in a year-end interactive session in December 2023, Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the NRC, shared plans about track laying activities on the impaired segments of the Kano-Lagos narrow gauge corridor. He also disclosed the successful relocation of locomotives and wagons to Minna, intended for Kaduna, in preparation for the resumption of operations on the Kano-Lagos corridor.
Despite Okhiria’s initial projection of the launch of express train services on the Kano-Lagos corridor before the close of December 2023, the plan did not materialize.
An official announcement from the NRC specifying the resumption date for express train services on the Kano-Lagos narrow gauge railway is anticipated in the coming days.
