The first container freight train on the Lagos-Ibadan railway route has commenced operations.
Its initial journey is from the Apapa port in Lagos to Ibadan.
The train transported thirty 40-foot containers to Ibadan, Oyo state. It covered the distance in approximately two and a half hours.
This railway project was constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The construction was during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement reads:
“The first container freight train of the Lagos-Ibadan railway, built by CCECC, has set off from Apapa Port in Lagos, Nigeria”.
“This train is the first container freight train after the cement freight train started operating on July 4th.
“It departed from Apapa Port and carried a total of 30 40-foot containers. It arrived at Ibadan station in just two and a half hours.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation plans to operate one pair of container trains daily and gradually increase the number of trains as the demand grows, improving the railway transportation system behind Lagos Port.”
The cargo movement on the single-gauge rail (SGR) from the Apapa port to Ibadan was inaugurated in September by the federal government.
During this inauguration, the train traveled from the Ebute Metta station, passed through Apapa, and continued to Ibadan over a 157-kilometer rail track.
This is a significant step in the development of rail infrastructure in Nigeria. There are also plans to divert certain types of cargo away from road transport as the rail network expands.
“As soon as we finish these rail projects, there are some types of cargo that will not go on road, whether you like it or not,” Amaechi had warned.