Our journey began at noon as we departed Maryland, Lagos, en route to Abeokuta. To our delight, the drive was unusually smooth—free of the usual traffic jams, potholes, and excessive police checkpoints. We made it to the historic city of Abeokuta in record time.
Upon arrival, we checked into Mitros Residences, located in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Ibara. The facility was modestly maintained, though power supply was unstable, flickering on and off in intervals. With improved electricity, the experience could certainly be more comfortable. Shortly after settling in, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at the famed Old INEC Buka, located opposite the former Governor’s residence. I opted for Eba with fish and okro, while my companions—Engr. Ayotunde Ayodeji and Mr. Ope Bankole—went for Amala with ewedu and gbegiri.
Later in the afternoon, we returned to the hotel for a strategic planning session concerning our latest project: the introduction of Catchball to Nigeria. This promising sport, popular in East African nations like Kenya, is primarily played by women but is accessible to all. It has now found its way to Nigerian soil, with the endorsement of the National Sports Commission (NSC) under the leadership of Mr. Bukola Olopade (Ozogula), and the support of Mr. Adeyinka Adeboye (popularly known as Sulu Authority), Senior Special Adviser to the President on Grassroots Sports Development.
Our visit to Abeokuta had dual purposes. Beyond the Catchball initiative, we were there to support the NSC at the long-awaited National Sports Festival, which was originally scheduled for the previous year but officially kicked off on May 18, 2025. The opening ceremony, held under the auspices of Governor Dapo Abiodun, was graced by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. It was a vibrant and successful event, a testament to the dedication of the NSC’s leadership.
Due to an urgent appointment back in Lagos, I had to catch the 5:00 p.m. evening train from Abeokuta. This leg of the journey, however, exposed some of the persistent challenges facing the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). Since Friday, we had tried—unsuccessfully—to book tickets via the NRC LITS mobile app, which repeatedly returned error messages, a common complaint among passengers. In the end, we had to rush to the Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station to purchase tickets in person, thanks to a timely ride from Dr. Mrs. Ijeoma Ladele.
Unfortunately, we encountered further difficulties at the station: the POS machines were rejected my WEMA Bank card and bank transfers were not accepted. With few options, we resorted to using a staff member’s bank card—at an extra cost. Attempts to book online via the NRC website (www.nrc.gov.ng) were also futile. These inefficiencies underscore the need for improved digital infrastructure and customer service.
It is our hope that the new NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, will prioritize these issues, especially the poor maintenance of train coaches. None of the charging ports were functional during our journey, and I was unable to power my phone—leaving me without a way to arrange a ride upon arrival. Consequently, I had no option but to use a private cab, which charged double the price listed on ride-hailing platforms like Bolt—N6,000 instead of N3,000.
While the train coaches appeared dated compared to my experience with rail systems in South Africa, the train crew deserves commendation. Announcements were delivered clearly in both English and Yoruba, and the staff were generally helpful and professional.
In all, the journey was a mix of promise and pitfalls. The rail system in Nigeria shows great potential, but much work remains to modernize operations and enhance passenger experience.
By Bola Babarinde, President Nigeria Catchball Federation.
