By Bola Babarinde, South Africa Chapter, Renewed Hope Global
Transportation remains the backbone of economic growth, national integration, and social mobility in every modern society. A nation’s efficiency is often measured not only by the infrastructure it builds but by how well it maintains and manages those systems. Nigeria today stands at an important crossroads where renewed investment in rail transportation offers a historic opportunity to transform mobility, safety, and economic productivity. However, infrastructure development alone is not enough. Sustained maintenance, operational discipline, and attention to user experience must now become national priorities.
Human movement and economic exchange depend primarily on three major modes of transportation: road, air, and rail. Road transportation is the most common and flexible, connecting communities directly and enabling last-mile mobility. However, it is also the most vulnerable to congestion, accidents, and rapid infrastructure deterioration due to heavy usage and poor maintenance culture. Air transportation is the fastest mode, suitable for long distances and international travel, but it is expensive, limited in cargo volume for domestic mass movement, and inaccessible to a large percentage of citizens. Rail transportation stands uniquely between these two systems as the safest, most efficient, and most suitable for moving large volumes of passengers and goods over land. Globally, rail systems record significantly fewer accidents compared to road transport, while offering affordability and capacity unmatched by air travel. It remains the most reliable system for mass evacuation of people from one location to another, especially in densely populated corridors.
In Nigeria, rail transportation experienced decades of decline, particularly during prolonged military eras when investment in public infrastructure weakened and maintenance culture deteriorated. Once a vibrant system that connected regions and powered commerce, the Nigerian rail network fell into near abandonment, leaving citizens dependent almost entirely on overstretched road networks.
The return to democratic governance marked a turning point. Civilian administrations began to recognize that transportation is fundamentally tied to citizens’ welfare and economic development. President Goodluck Jonathan initiated significant investments aimed at reviving the rail sector, laying the foundation for modernization and expansion. These efforts were substantially advanced under President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration actualized many of the projects, expanded rail connectivity, and demonstrated strong belief in rail as a strategic national asset. The extension of rail infrastructure toward the Niger Republic border symbolized Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a regional transportation hub.
The current administration of President Bola Tinubu has continued along this path, sustaining policy continuity by supporting ongoing projects and emphasizing completion and maintenance of inherited infrastructure. Continuity in governance is essential for large-scale transportation systems whose benefits are realized over decades rather than electoral cycles.
Yet, infrastructure success must ultimately be measured by passenger experience and operational quality. A recent personal journey from Lagos to Ibadan on February 27, with a return trip on February 28 via the , revealed areas demanding urgent attention despite the impressive progress already made.
Onboard experience showed clear signs of maintenance gaps. Some equipment, including passenger trays, were dysfunctional, while onboard toilets appeared outdated and insufficiently cleaned. These issues may appear minor compared to the scale of railway construction, but they significantly shape public perception. Modern rail systems worldwide succeed because comfort, cleanliness, and functionality are treated as essential components of service delivery rather than optional extras.
More concerning was the situation at the . Upon leaving the station toward the city, passengers encountered a dusty, rough, and largely abandoned access road. This contradiction is striking: billions invested in modern rail infrastructure, yet the connecting road that determines first and last impressions remains neglected. A driver conveying passengers to town revealed that dignitaries frequently use the train service, yet the poor state of the access road has not received sufficient official attention.
Infrastructure planning must never end at station gates. Accessibility determines usability. When access roads are neglected, the efficiency of the entire transport chain is compromised. Passengers judge the system not only by the train ride but by the total journey experience from departure to final destination.
Nigeria cannot afford to invest heavily in world-class rail assets while allowing supporting infrastructure to decay. Maintenance must become institutionalized rather than reactive. Regular inspections, strict sanitation standards, functional onboard equipment checks, and coordinated collaboration between railway authorities and state governments on access roads should be mandatory.
Management accountability is equally important. Where leadership fails to prioritize maintenance and service quality, decisive administrative action should follow. Public infrastructure exists to serve citizens, and stewardship of such assets demands competence, responsiveness, and visible commitment to improvement.
Rail transportation represents more than movement; it symbolizes national organization, discipline, and modernity. A functional rail system reduces road accidents, lowers transportation costs, stimulates commerce, and enhances Nigeria’s global image. Completing unfinished projects and maintaining existing ones will not only justify past investments but also inspire public confidence in government continuity and national planning.
Nigeria has already taken the most difficult step by rebuilding its rail network after decades of neglect. The next and more critical phase is preserving what has been built. With consistent maintenance, improved passenger services, and completion of supporting infrastructure such as access roads, Nigeria’s rail system can become a model for Africa and a powerful engine of economic transformation.
The rails have been laid. What remains is the discipline to keep them running efficiently, safely, and proudly for generations to come.
