CCECC Launches Cargo Freight Service on Lagos-Ibadan Railway 

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has commenced cargo freight operations on the Lagos-Ibadan Railway, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s logistics and transportation sector.

The inaugural freight service, announced by CCECC’s representative in Nigeria, John Zhao, via his official X account, introduced a seamless cross-border rail transport model. The first cargo train departed from the Ajuba Bonded Terminal, transported goods to Apapa Port in Lagos, and returned with import containers, establishing a fully integrated logistics cycle for import and export operations.

CCECC’s launch follows the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s (NRC) recent approval of a three-year operational license, making it the first company to receive authorization for standard-gauge rail freight services in Nigeria. The license, effective from October 14, 2024, to October 13, 2027, allows CCECC to operate freight services along the critical Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor.

Constructed by CCECC and officially launched in June 2021, the 157-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Railway, with an additional 7-kilometre branch line, supports speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. It provides a crucial link between Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, and Ibadan, a key industrial city. Since its inception, the railway has transported over 2 million passengers and facilitated extensive freight movement.

The launch of CCECC’s cargo freight service aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance rail logistics in Nigeria. In February 2025, NRC and APM Terminals Apapa resumed the Apapa-Ibadan standard-gauge freight rail service, operating on a fixed schedule.

This development further strengthens Nigeria’s rail transport network, improving efficiency and reducing pressure on road infrastructure.