Rail licence not for construction of new tracks -SWDC

The South-West Development Commission (SWDC) has moved to clarify a potential misunderstanding regarding its newly acquired rail licence. Following public excitement and some misinterpretations, the commission emphasized that the licence from the Nigerian Railway Corporation is strictly for operating passenger and freight services on existing rail tracks, not for the construction of new infrastructure.

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The licence has been misconstrued in some quarters as authorisation to construct new rail infrastructure. This is incorrect.

This distinction is crucial. While the SWDC is indeed paving the way for enhanced rail services across the South-West, the focus is on leveraging and optimizing the current rail network. The provisional licence allows the commission to run trains on existing narrow and standard gauge corridors, connecting communities, businesses, and economic centers. This strategic approach aims to cut transportation costs, improve logistics efficiency, and boost passenger mobility within the region.

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The provisional rail operating and track access licence issued by the Nigerian Railway Corporation authorises SWDC to provide services on existing narrow and standard gauge rail corridors in the region.

The SWDC, established to drive development across the six South-West states, sees this as a foundational step for its SW-RAIL platform. The platform is designed to harness existing infrastructure for agro-industrial development and job creation. The commission assures the public that further updates will be provided through official channels, urging reliance on these sources for accurate information about its projects and programs.

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The SW-RAIL platform was designed to “optimise existing infrastructure to cut transportation costs, improve logistics efficiency, strengthen agro-industrial development, enhance passenger mobility and create jobs across the region.”