The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has rolled out a sweeping 50 per cent reduction in train fares nationwide as part of a special Yuletide intervention aimed at cushioning the impact of soaring travel costs on Nigerians during the festive season.
The fare slash, which takes effect from Tuesday, December 23, will run through January 4, according to the Managing Director of the corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa.
The initiative, he said, is in line with a directive of the Federal Government and reflects the NRC’s responsibility as a public service provider at a time of heightened economic pressure.
Speaking on TVC News Breakfast on Monday, Opeifa said the decision was informed by the sharp spike in transportation costs across other modes of travel during the Christmas and New Year period.
He said, “We are slashing our fares by 50 per cent as directed by the Federal Government, and we agree it should be so because we are a public corporation. Ideally, we would have loved to make it free, as we did in the past. But our experience showed that completely free rides created serious discomfort for regular users, especially those who rely on the trains for genuine travel and business.”
Opeifa contrasted the relatively modest cost of rail travel with what he described as “astronomical” fares in the aviation and road transport sectors, driven by peak-season demand.
He noted, “While other modes of transportation are going up, people are now paying as much as ₦500,000 for a flight ticket, sometimes just to secure a seat. Even road travel is no longer cheap. Some fares are quoted at ₦100,000 and beyond”, attributing the increases largely to demand-and-supply pressures typical of the festive season.
The NRC chief also acknowledged operational challenges facing the corporation, particularly overcrowding and the activities of what he termed “jolly riders, passengers who occupy seats for short, non-essential trips, thereby denying access to long-distance travellers.
Opeifa stated, “We have more people than we can carry, and we also have jolly riders who just hop on for very short distances, depriving others who genuinely need the service. So the fare reduction is a balanced approach—making travel affordable for the common people and even the elite, without undermining regular users.”
Beyond the fare cut, Opeifa assured commuters of improved service delivery during the festive period, including upgraded onboard facilities. He said NRC coaches, restrooms and restaurants have been refurbished to enhance passenger comfort.
He added, “Our services have been elevated. The restaurants are brand new, air-conditioned, and our facilities are better maintained. We want passengers to feel safe and comfortable”,, adding that expanded rail coverage in the future could help moderate prices across other transport modes.
The fare reduction comes against the backdrop of rising travel anxiety among Nigerians ahead of Christmas, as domestic airfares have surged beyond ₦300,000 on some routes due to limited aircraft availability and high demand. The situation has sparked calls from lawmakers for a review of aviation taxes to ease the burden on travellers.
Inter-city road transport fares have also climbed sharply, despite warnings from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission against arbitrary price hikes by bus operators. Compounding the situation are growing security concerns on major highways, with fears of attacks and abductions prompting many travellers to avoid long road journeys.
Against this backdrop, the NRC’s Yuletide fare cut is expected to provide a safer and more affordable alternative for thousands of commuters seeking to travel during the festive season.
