The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) will run three special trips on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor on Thursday, April 2, to handle increased passenger demand during the Easter period. Callistus Unyimadu, the NRC's chief public relations officer, announced the schedule in a statement issued Tuesday in Lagos. From Mobolaji Johnson Station in Ebute Metta, departures are set for 7:45 a.m., 1:40 p.m., and 4:00 p.m., while trains from Obafemi Awolowo Station in Moniya, Ibadan, will leave at 8:00 a.m., 10:50 a.m., and 4:30 p.m.
A special free service funded by the Osun State government will operate on the narrow-gauge line, with a train leaving Iddo Station in Lagos for Osogbo at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and returning from Osogbo to Iddo at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 6. The Abuja-Kaduna line will maintain its regular schedule, with two trips on Thursdays and three on Fridays through Mondays. The Warri-Itakpe route runs daily except Thursdays, which are reserved for maintenance.
On the Eastern narrow-gauge corridor, the Port Harcourt-Aba service will operate as usual, with departures at 8:00 a.m. from Port Harcourt and 3:00 p.m. from Aba. The NRC advised passengers to arrive early and follow ticketing and security protocols, reaffirming its commitment to safe and reliable rail services.
Running extra trains only during Easter, not weekends or peak periods, reveals how limited regular service remains despite public promises. Callistus Unyimadu's announcement highlights temporary fixes, not a functional rail network. For most Nigerians, train travel remains an occasional option, not a reliable daily alternative. This special arrangement changes nothing about the system's chronic underperformance.
