The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has granted the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation(CCECC) a three-year licence to operate freight services on the Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge railway line, effective until October 2027.
The announcement was made in a tweet by CCECC on Friday, which included a copy of the official licence certificate.
“New milestone for the Lagos-Ibadan Railway! CCECC has been officially authorized by the Nigerian Railway Corporation to operate railway services for the public carriage of goods, becoming the first company licensed to operate standard-gauge rail freight in Nigeria,” CCECC’s tweet read in part.
The accompanied document confirms the NRC’s authorization, granting CCECC permission to operate the railway for the public carriage of goods from October 14, 2024, to October 13, 2027.
“This is to certify that CCECC having satisfied the conditions laid down by Nigerian Railway Corporation in the exercise of the Powers Vested on it by Nigerian Railway Corporation is hereby authorised to operate a railway for the Public Carriage of Goods from the 14th day of October 2024 to the 13th day of October 2027″, the certificate read.
This move aligns with the NRC’s ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and capacity of Nigeria’s railway system, particularly for cargo movement, which is expected to alleviate road congestion and reduce transport costs.
