The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to partner with the Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) to reactivate two strategic railway corridors — the Osogbo–Dagbolu–Erunmu line and the Idogo line.
The collaboration was disclosed in a statement posted on the NRC’s official X account on Thursday. According to the corporation, the revived routes will primarily support freight operations, enabling the movement of agricultural produce from southwestern towns to major markets in Lagos, while facilitating the return of consumer goods to interior communities.
SWDC Managing Director, Charles Diji Akinola, said the commission is giving priority to the revitalisation of these lines because of their critical role in boosting regional trade and strengthening food supply chains. He noted that rail connectivity remains central to the economic revitalisation of the six states of the Southwest.
Akinola added that the commission’s rail development agenda is structured into short-, medium-, and long-term phases. In the immediate term, the SWDC plans to take over select unserviced routes and run them on a profit-sharing arrangement with the NRC, supported by targeted subsidies that will assist local farmers and stimulate agricultural production.
“The SWDC Managing Director, Charles Diji Akinola, had earlier said the Commission was fired by the extensive work of DAWN in the area of infrastructure and rail transportation development in the six states of the southwest, adding that regional rail connectivity is key to the economic revitalisation of the southwest.
“While noting that the commission’s rail infrastructure development is divided into short, medium and long term, Akinola said on the short term, SWDC seeks to have some old unserviced routes in the southwest ceded to it to operate on profit sharing basis.
“In particular, Akinola said the commission is interested in reactivating the Osogbo-Dagbolu-Erunmu route, while the Idogo route would also be key in ensuring food security,” the NRC statement read in part.
The NRC said further details on timelines and implementation plans will be announced as discussions progress.
