The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Akinola, has outlined the commission’s strategy to revive several dormant rail lines across the Southwest, aiming to reduce transportation costs, improve market access, create jobs for youths, and promote rural prosperity.
Akinola shared these plans on Monday during a media interaction in Lagos. He praised Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), for welcoming SWDC’s proposal on enhancing regional rail connectivity during a recent executive visit.
He revealed that Opeifa assured the SWDC team of a positive review of their proposals and expressed the NRC’s readiness to support the commission in making rail transportation a key driver of economic growth in the region. Opeifa also confirmed that NRC would work with SWDC’s technical team to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operationalize the plans.
Highlighting the economic benefits, Akinola said regional rail connectivity would boost agriculture, enhance food security, increase the Southwest’s GDP, and align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
SWDC’s rail development roadmap includes short, medium, and long-term objectives. In the short term, the commission seeks the concessioning of unused rail lines for immediate operation, focusing on reviving the historic Idogo route and the Dagbolu–Osogbo–Erunmu–Omi–Adio corridor.
“Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states are already served by rail. We aim to maximize these corridors to transport foodstuffs to Lagos and deliver fast-moving consumer goods to other Southwest markets,” Akinola explained.
He emphasized that reviving the Idogo–Dagbolu route will facilitate large-scale movement of farm produce and improve cargo efficiency while creating jobs and boosting commerce.
For the medium term, SWDC has applied for an operational licence for new rail routes and is optimistic about timely approval.
The commission is also exploring partnerships with private-sector operators to manage selected lines.
Akinola noted that both SWDC and NRC have established a joint technical team and are coordinating with the six Southwest governors to build strategic road connections to rail stations, linking dry ports, industrial hubs, and other key facilities.
