The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, says Nigeria has the technical capacity and professional expertise required to build a modern rail system, insisting that funding—not knowledge—is the country’s biggest challenge in achieving the scale of railway development Nigerians expect.
Speaking on The Exchange Podcast with Femi Soneye, in an episode scheduled for release on Sunday, Opeifa said Nigerian engineers and technicians have repeatedly demonstrated competence in rail construction, operations, and maintenance. What is missing, he emphasised, is consistent long-term investment.
“Nigeria has the brains. What we need is money.”
Opeifa dismissed claims that Nigeria lacks the expertise to operate a world-class rail system, stating that the NRC workforce contains some of the most experienced railway professionals in Africa.
“Our challenge is not expertise. Nigerian engineers know what to do. We have built, maintained, and operated railways for decades. The problem is funding—sustainable funding—to modernise, expand, and maintain the network,” he said.
He noted that inconsistent budgeting, delayed releases, and the absence of dedicated long-term financing lines for rail infrastructure have slowed down many critical projects.
Why funding determines speed, safety, and nationwide connectivity
The NRC boss explained that rail infrastructure requires heavy upfront capital, long-term planning, and continuous investment—something difficult to achieve under short-term budget cycles.
According to him, insufficient funding affects everything from track rehabilitation to procurement of locomotives, wagons, spare parts, signalling systems, and security technology.
“Rail is not a project you start today and hope to finish tomorrow. It requires billions, and it requires consistency. If the money stops, the work stops,” he said.
He warned that even the best technical teams cannot deliver efficiently if the financial pipeline for projects remains unstable.
Nigerian workers still keeping the system running
Despite funding constraints, Opeifa praised NRC workers for keeping the system functioning, often under challenging conditions.
He noted that the Corporation continues to rehabilitate narrow-gauge lines, maintain standard-gauge routes, and support freight services through local innovation and resourcefulness.
“Our staff are doing wonders with the little we have. They deserve more respect and more support,” he added.
Reviving old lines requires heavy capital—not imported expertise
Opeifa said many abandoned or degraded narrow-gauge routes—some stretching hundreds of kilometres—can be revived, but financing is the determining factor.
He stressed that Nigeria does not need to import full teams of foreign experts to fix old lines; it only needs to fund the work.
“People think foreigners must come and do everything. No. Nigerians can handle most of the work. What they need are materials, equipment, and funding,” he said.
A call for a more sustainable financing model
The NRC chief urged the Federal Government to adopt a long-term rail financing framework that shields railway development from political transitions, annual budgets, and shifting priorities.
He advocated a mix of:
Government capital investment
Long-term concessional loans
Private sector participation
Public–private partnerships for freight corridors
According to him, Nigeria cannot achieve a national rail backbone without a holistic, predictable, and guaranteed financing plan.
“If we get the funding right, Nigeria’s rail transformation will surprise the world”
Opeifa said the current administration understands the strategic value of rail—both for the economy and national security—and is working to address financing bottlenecks.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s potential for rail expansion is enormous and realistic—once the financial structure is resolved.
“Give us the funding, and you will see a railway system that works. We have the expertise. We have the commitment. What we need now is investment,” he said.
The full interview with Dr. Opeifa is trending on The Exchange Podcast with Femi Soneye.
