Lagos-ibadan Railway Launches First Container Freight Train From Apapa Port
The Lagos-Ibadan railway, built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has commenced its first container freight train service from Apapa Port in Lagos, Nigeria.
The train departed from Apapa Port on Friday, November 3, 2023, carrying a total of 30 40-foot containers, and arrived at Ibadan station in just two and a half hours.
The Lagos-Ibadan railway is a standard gauge railway project that covers a distance of 156 km, connecting Lagos, the largest city and economic hub of Nigeria, with Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The railway project, which was completed and inaugurated in June 2021, is part of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization project, which aims to link the southern and northern regions of Nigeria by rail.
The railway project is also a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative, a global development strategy proposed by China to enhance connectivity and cooperation among countries.
The launch of the container freight train service is expected to ease the congestion and improve the efficiency of the Apapa Port, which is the largest and busiest port in Nigeria and West Africa.
The service will also facilitate the movement of goods and passengers between Lagos and Ibadan, as well as other cities along the railway corridor, such as Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Omi-Adio.
The Lagos-Ibadan railway project has been hailed as a milestone achievement for Nigeria’s transportation sector, as well as a symbol of the friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and China.
