Rail transport in Nigeria
Open-knowledge reference entry
Railways in Nigeria consist of a 3,505 km (2,178 mi) 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) national railway network and 669 km (416 mi) of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in). There are also plans for a 4,000 km (2,500 mi) SG high-speed railway network. The Cape gauge network is in poor condition due to lack of maintenance. In 2019, the single operational standard gauge line from Abuja to Kaduna generated as much revenue as the entire Cape gauge railway network combined. The Nigerian government plans to extend the standard gauge to replace most of the Western Line, while the Eastern Line will be rehabilitated as a Cape gauge line. All trains in Nigeria are operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
The first railway line in the country was constructed in 1891 between Lagos and Ibadan under the British colonial administration. Its primary purpose was to facilitate the exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources, such as tin, coal, and petroleum. The railway was also intended to promote trade between Nigeria and other countries, making the train port trade a major part of Nigeria's colonial economy. The railway network expanded over the next few decades, and by the time Nigeria gained independence in 1960, there were over 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) of railway lines in the country.
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