The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) recorded a significant boost in its financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, as passenger revenue rose to ₦1.95 billion, reflecting a surge in ridership across the country’s rail network.

According to the Rail Transportation Data Q1 2025 report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the NRC transported 929,553 passengers between January and March 2025 a sharp increase of 37.65 percent compared to 675,293 passengers during the same period in 2024.

The report attributes the revenue jump to increased public confidence in the rail system and improved infrastructure, particularly along major routes such as the Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna lines.

In addition to passenger earnings, the NRC generated ₦657.03 million from goods and cargo haulage in Q1 2025, marking an 8.19 percent rise from the ₦607.32 million recorded a year earlier. Other income streams, including fees and miscellaneous receipts, grew remarkably from ₦25.40 million in Q1 2024 to ₦115.68 million in the same quarter of 2025.

Industry analysts say the figures highlight the growing reliance on rail transport for both passenger movement and freight logistics amid rising road transport costs and insecurity on major highways.

The NRC’s performance underscores the impact of ongoing federal investments in railway modernization and expansion projects aimed at reviving Nigeria’s transportation sector.