The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) earned N1.95 billion in revenue from passenger transportation during the first quarter of 2025, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This information was contained in the Rail Transportation Data Q1 2025 report, which the NBS published on October 5 and later announced through its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.
The report highlighted a notable rise in both passenger numbers and revenue generated by the rail system when compared with figures recorded in the same period of 2024.
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“In Q1 2025, a total of 929,553 passengers travelled by rail, compared to 675,293 passengers recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024, representing a growth of 37.65%,” the report stated.
It also revealed that the volume of goods and cargo transported stood at 181,520 tons, higher than the 160,650 tons moved in the first quarter of 2024, indicating improved freight activity.
In terms of revenue performance, the NBS reported: “N1.95 billion was generated from passengers during the reference period, reflecting a rise of 37.36% compared to the N1.42 billion earned in the same quarter of the previous year.”
The agency further disclosed that the NRC recorded N657.03 million in revenue from goods and cargo transportation, which marked an 8.19% increase from the N607.32 million achieved in Q1 2024.
It added: “Other receipts amounted to N115.68 million, showing an increase of 355.39% in Q1 2025 compared to N25.40 million recorded in the same period of 2024.”
Experts believe that the continued rise in passenger and freight traffic is linked to sustained infrastructure development, particularly the operation of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, which has significantly boosted railway services since its inauguration in 2021.
Meanwhile, the railway sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded an 18.65% growth in Q1 2025, reinforcing its expanding role in the country’s economic development.
