Nigeria’s rail transport sector recorded a major boost in the first quarter of 2025, generating ₦2.72 billion in revenue, a 37.36% increase compared to ₦2.11 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.
The latest figures, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Rail Transport Data Report (Q1 2025), show that the growth was largely driven by a sharp rise in passenger traffic and improved cargo movement across the country.
According to the report, revenue from passenger transport jumped by 37.4%, climbing from ₦1.42 billion in Q1 2024 to ₦1.95 billion in Q1 2025. Similarly, revenue from cargo services grew by 8.2%, increasing from ₦607.3 million to ₦657.03 million within the same period.
The data also revealed a significant rise in the number of passengers who used the rail system — from 675,293 people in Q1 2024 to 929,553 people in Q1 2025, marking a 37.65% increase.
For freight services, the total volume of goods transported by rail reached 181,520 tons, compared to 160,650 tons in the corresponding quarter of 2024.
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The NBS further reported that aside from passenger and cargo services, other income sources also contributed ₦115.68 million in Q1 2025 — a massive 355% increase from ₦25.4 million recorded a year earlier.
Overall, the strong performance reflects growing public confidence in Nigeria’s rail transport system, as recent investments and improvements in infrastructure continue to yield positive results.
