The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) are joining forces to make this vision real, harnessing technology to build an integrated ticketing system that puts passenger convenience at the center of mobility.

The partnership took shape during a recent visit by Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the managing director of NRC, to LAMATA’s rail facilities.

Welcomed by Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, LAMATA’s managing director, the delegation toured some of the state’s most transformative rail assets, the Marina Train Station, the Blue Line Independent Power Plant (IPP), the Red Line’s Oyingbo Station, and the Security Control Center. Each stop reflected how technology is redefining Lagos’ urban mobility story.

For Dr. Opeifa, the future of train travel lies in integration.

“We are developing a ticketing system that will link the federal payment gateway with Lagos State’s electronic fare collection system,” he explained. “This means commuters will no longer need to juggle multiple tickets or payment platforms. With one system, travel will be smarter, easier, and more efficient.”

Engr. Akinajo echoed this vision of technology-driven convenience, noting that LAMATA is deliberately building connections at critical interchanges such as Agbado and Agege.

“Seamless mobility is our focus,” she said. “By linking systems and networks, we are ensuring that a passenger can move from one end of Lagos to another without unnecessary barriers. This is how cities of the future function, and Lagos is on that path.”

She also pointed to the Blue Line’s impressive 99% uptime since launch, a testament to how technology is powering reliability in Lagos’ modern rail system.

Backed by the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, LAMATA is not just building rail lines, it is building confidence in public transport through consistent service and smart integration.

The strengthened partnership between LAMATA and NRC goes beyond infrastructure, it is about creating a travel experience where technology serves the commuter. From integrated ticketing to real-time monitoring, both organisations are shaping a future where Lagosians can rely on public transport that is safe, efficient, and digitally connected.

For millions of daily commuters, this means more than convenience. It is the promise of a Lagos where transport is not just a necessity, but a smooth, tech-driven experience that fuels productivity, trust, and growth.

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This is contained in the National Bureau Statistics Rail Transportation Data for Q3 and Q4 2022, which was released on Tuesday in Abuja.

The report further showed that the number of rail transport passengers in Q3 2022 dropped by 500,348.

“This is lower than the 696,841 recorded in Q3 2021, representing a growth rate of -28.20 percent. ”

Similarly, N101.84 million was collected as revenue from goods/cargos in Q3 2022, a 7.04 percent decrease from N109.56 million in Q3 2021.

“Also, other receipts grew by 707.31 percent in Q3 2022 from the N14.61 million recorded in Q3 2021.”

In addition, the report showed that 33,312 tonnes of goods were transported in Q3 2022, compared to 51,726 tons reported in Q3 2021.

The corporation earned N1.15 billion from passengers in Q4 2022, a 39.54 percent decrease from Q4 2021 when it earned N1.91 billion.

It also stated that revenue generated from goods in Q4 2022 was N157.23 million, up 63.56 percent from N96.13 million in Q4 2021.

Other income receipts were N382.17 million, an increase of 3,316.18 percent from N11.19 million in Q4 2021.

The report said in Q4 2022, the number of passengers increased by 30.10 percent from 1.03 million persons recorded in Q4 2021 to 1.34 million persons in Q4 2022.

It said the volume of goods transported decreased by 1.50 percent in Q4 2022.

“However, on an annual basis, the number of passengers increased by 18.36 percent.”

Nigerian Railway Corporation is a state-owned enterprise with exclusive rights to operate railways in Nigeria.

Mr. Augustin Arisa, the NRC’s Lagos District Manager, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

Arisa stated that the firm had 173,488 passengers in 2021 and 519,738 in 2022.

The official attributed the increase in passengers in 2022 to the Federal Government’s awareness and free trips from the end of 2021 through the first week of January 2022.

He said: “The Standard Gauge fare from Lagos to Ibadan (Mobolaji Johnson Ebute Meta to Obafemi Awolowo Station in Moniya) cost N9,000 for executive class.

“N6,500 for Business class, N3,600 for standard class and it cost N3,000 for standard class for minors.

“From Lagos to Abeokuta (Mobolaji Johnson Ebute-Meta to Prof. Wole Soyinka Station in Abeokuta) the fare is N6,000 for executive class, N4,500 for business class, N3,000 for standard and minor N2,000.

“From Abeokuta to Ibadan the standard gauge fare is N3000 for executive, N2,000 for business class, and N1,000 for standard class.”

Arisa further stated that in 2021, the company registered 524,093 passengers on the Mass Transit train from Lagos to Ijoko in Ogun and 964,631 passengers in 2022.

According to the district manager, the corporation operates four excursions daily from Lagos to Ijoko — two in the morning between 6.30 a.m. and 7.00 a.m., and two in the evening at 5.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m., respectively.

He stated that the firm would continue to raise public awareness of its services and that various social media platforms would be used to do so.

Arisa went on to say that the corporation had also put measures in place to combat hoodlum destruction of NRC sites.

This comes just a few days after the NRC halted operations on the route due to a train disaster.

In a statement issued on Monday, Niyi Alli, NRC’s director of operations, announced the restoration of Abuja-Kaduna train services.

“The board and management of Nigerian Railway Corporation are pleased to announce the recommencement of the Abuja-Kaduna train service,” the statement reads.

“The service was suspended on January 27, due to the derailment that occurred at Kubwa station on the same date.

“Subsequently, the service will resume on January 31, with the following daily schedule — KA2 departs Rigasa at 0700; AK1 departs Idu at 10.00; KA4 departs Rigasa at 13.00; AK3 departs Idu at 16.00.

“However, on Wednesdays, only KA2 will depart Rigasa at 0700 and AK 3 will depart Idu at 16.00.”

Alli also said NRC “regrets any inconvenience the corporation’s passengers might have experienced as a result of the temporary suspension of the service.”

When compared to the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, the data shows a decline of 71%.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released a new report titled “Rail Transportation Data Q2 2022” that includes the most recent NRC data.

According to the report, 422,393 persons used the train system in Q2 2022, as opposed to the 953,099 passengers registered in the first quarter of 2022.

The fall in passenger numbers had a major impact on the company’s capacity to earn revenue.

In Q2 2022, N598,736,300 in income was earned from passengers, compared to N2,077,836.876 in Q1 2022.

While there was a decrease in revenue from passengers, the report shows that there was an increase in the revenue generated from goods and cargo.

Analysis of the Index shows that the revenue generated from goods/cargos in Q2 2022 was N86,007,680, while revenue generated from goods/cargos in Q1 2022 was N71,769,967.

Recall that in March, the NRC suspended its Abuja-Kaduna train operations after gunmen planted explosives on the rail track and attacked passengers.