The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola, has said the commission’s renewed push to revive dormant rail corridors across the region is a strategic effort to build a modern regional rail ecosystem capable of reducing transportation costs, expanding market access, and stimulating rural and industrial growth.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists on Monday, Akinola commended the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, for embracing the commission’s proposals on enhanced rail connectivity in the Southwest. The engagement followed last week’s visit of the SWDC executive management to the NRC headquarters in Lagos.
Opeifa, while receiving the delegation, assured the commission of the NRC’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen rail transportation as a driver of national economic development.
He revealed that the NRC was already reviewing the SWDC’s application for an operational licence and had directed relevant directors to collaborate with the commission’s technical team on drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the proposals.
Akinola noted that improved regional rail connectivity would encourage farming activities, strengthen food security, grow the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and promote widespread economic prosperity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the engagement with the NRC had strengthened the commission’s ongoing technical work on the Southwest Rail Development Programme, which is being driven by its Rail Sector Technical Committee.
According to him, the SWDC’s rail development roadmap features short-, medium- and long-term interventions. In the immediate term, the commission is seeking the concessioning of old and unutilized rail routes for rapid commencement of operations.
Of particular importance, Akinola said, is the revival of the historic Idogo rail route and the reactivation of the Dagbolu–Osogbo–Erunmu–Omi–Adio corridor.
He described the Idogo corridor as crucial to agricultural evacuation and food security.
“Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun already have rail services. What we want to do is maximize these existing corridors to move foodstuffs efficiently into Lagos, and distribute fast-moving consumer goods from the Lagos–Ogun industrial axis to other Southwest markets.
“We plan to revive the Idogo route and extend it to Dagbolu to enable the bulk movement of farm produce from Osun, Oyo and Ogun states into Lagos, where demand is highest.
This corridor will also facilitate the distribution of consumer goods to other states, boost commerce, create jobs and improve cargo efficiency,” he said.
For the medium-term phase, the MD confirmed that the SWDC has applied for operational licences for new routes and expressed optimism about timely approval.
He added that the commission is engaging private-sector partners to operate selected lines across the region.
“This agenda was previously championed by the DAWN Commission, and we are now positioned to fast-track its full implementation,” he noted.
Akinola added that both agencies had agreed to establish a joint technical team and revealed that the SWDC is working closely with the six Southwest governors to develop strategic road spurs that would connect rail stations to dry ports, industrial hubs and other key facilities across the region.
