Nigeria’s Festive Rail Experiment Ends As Normal Fares Return
By FIDELUS ZWANSON
THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Sunday officially ended its federally approved 50 percent fare reduction, restoring standard ticket pricing across all national rail corridors. The corporation confirmed that the discounted fares, introduced as part of a yuletide travel relief intervention, successfully ran through the festive season, concluding on January 4, 2026, with what management described as “largely hitch-free operations.”
Record Patronage During Discount Window
NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, disclosed that passenger turnout during the fare-slash period exceeded projections, with thousands of travellers choosing rail over road transport amid rising intercity travel costs. According to him, the discount created a noticeable behavioural shift, drawing first-time rail users and strengthening rail’s competitive appeal against long-distance buses and private car travel.
He noted that major standard-gauge corridors — Lagos–Ibadan, Abuja–Kaduna, and Warri–Itakpe — witnessed consistent crowds, orderly boarding, and punctual departures. The narrow-gauge Mass Transit Train (MTT) services also recorded steady uptake, demonstrating that demand for rail cuts across economic classes when pricing aligns with commuter realities.
Operational Performance and Institutional Collaboration
Opeifa commended NRC staff for managing both online and station-based ticketing without systemic breakdowns, despite peak-season pressure. Customer service units reportedly assisted new users unfamiliar with digital booking platforms, while security agencies maintained crowd control, baggage checks, and onboard surveillance.
However, transportation analysts have observed that the surge underscores a deeper issue: rail affordability remains central to national mobility choices, and sustained patronage may depend on future fare-balancing strategies rather than seasonal discounts alone.
What the Fare Reset Signals
With pricing now normalized, NRC insists its focus remains service reliability, passenger safety, and infrastructure stability under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Yet public reactions monitored by commuter groups suggest a lingering desire for structured fare reforms, not just temporary price cuts, to match economic realities beyond festive periods.
