Rail services operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation conveyed a total of 3,888,661 passengers in 2025, generating N7.77 billion in passenger revenue.

The figures were released by the National Bureau of Statistics in its annual rail transportation report, which covers all rail lines managed by the NRC.

The data underscores the scale of Nigeria’s federally operated rail network and its role in supporting the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The total passenger volume and revenue in figures were compiled from the National Bureau of Statistics rail transportation reports for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of 2025.

In the first quarter, rail services carried 929,553 passengers, generating N1.95 billion in revenue—representing a 37.65 per cent increase in ridership and a 37.36 per cent rise in revenue compared with the same period in 2024.

During the second quarter, 989,793 passengers travelled on the rail network, producing N2.28 billion in revenue.

This reflected a 43.60 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers and a 35.36 per cent rise in revenue.

In the third quarter, 1,028,839 passengers used the rail network, generating N1.94 billion in revenue.

This represented a 38.43 per cent increase in passenger traffic and a 14.44 per cent rise in revenue compared with Q3 2024, according to the NBS.

In the fourth quarter, 940,476 passengers were transported, producing N1.60 billion in revenue.

This reflected a 9.32 per cent decline in ridership and a 16.30 per cent drop in revenue compared with the same period in 2024.

Overall, while the first three quarters recorded strong performance, the slowdown in the final quarter moderated the pace of annual passenger revenue growth.

Beyond passenger services, rail lines operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation also transported significant cargo volumes in 2025, contributing to total earnings.

Freight movement was particularly strong in the first half of the year, with 181,520 tonnes carried in Q1 and 210,570 tonnes in Q2.

However, cargo volumes declined in the second half, dropping to 130,540 tonnes in Q3 and 110,480 tonnes in Q4, according to the NBS.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation operates long-distance passenger services along major corridors, including the Lagos–Ibadan Railway, Abuja–Kaduna Railway, and Warri–Itakpe Railway routes.

Separately, the Lagos State Government manages its own urban rail network, including Phase 1 of the Lagos Blue Line and the Lagos Red Line.

The planned Lagos Green Line project is also expected to commence soon. These urban rail lines are not operated by the NRC.

In the Nigeria 2026 federal budget, N29.04 billion has been allocated under project code ERGP13177707 for railway modernisation.

The funding covers projects such as the completion of the Abuja–Kaduna Railway, upgrades to the Lagos–Ibadan Railway, and the rehabilitation of the Itakpe–Ajaokuta Railway.