• The Nigerian Railway Corporation has increased Lagos-Ibadan train trips from four to six for Sallah travel
• The temporary schedule adjustment takes effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• The additional services aim to ease expected festive travel congestion

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has announced additional train services along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor to cater to the expected surge in passenger traffic during the Sallah celebrations.

In a statement released on Saturday, the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, said the temporary adjustment would take effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to help ease travel for Nigerians heading home for the festive season.

“The temporary adjustment is aimed at accommodating the expected increase in passenger movement as many Nigerians travel to celebrate the festive season with their families and loved ones,” the statement said.

Under the revised arrangement, the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service will operate six trips instead of the regular four usually scheduled on Tuesdays.

The corporation explained that trains departing Lagos would leave at 7:45am, 1:40pm, and 4:00pm, while departures from Ibadan are fixed for 8:00am, 10:50am, and 4:30pm.

NRC clarified that the expanded timetable is only for the Sallah period and normal operations would return immediately after the celebration.

“Immediately after the celebration, the normal Tuesday timetable of four trips will resume,” the corporation stated.

The railway corporation also announced a temporary reduction in its newly introduced Thursday six-trip schedule. According to the statement, only four trips will operate on Thursday, May 28, 2026, before the full six-trip Thursday schedule resumes the following week.

In a related development, the NRC disclosed that the Osun State Government would once again sponsor a free Sallah train service for indigenes travelling from Lagos to Osogbo for the festivities.

The special narrow-gauge train is scheduled to depart from Iddo Station in Lagos on Tuesday, May 26, while the return journey from Osogbo to Lagos will take place on Thursday, May 28.

According to the corporation, the initiative is part of the annual festive transport support provided by the Osun State Government through a partnership arrangement with the NRC.

“The service, which is usually operated during festive periods, is being sponsored by the Osun State Government through a paid arrangement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to convey Osun indigenes free of charge for the Sallah celebration,” the statement added.

The NRC reaffirmed its commitment to delivering “safe, efficient and reliable rail transportation services across the country” while wishing Nigerians a peaceful and enjoyable Sallah celebration.

Nigeria plans 4,000km rail network as FG orders full review of $200bn proposal

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government had inaugurated an inter-agency committee to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed $200bn gas-powered high-speed rail project expected to span approximately 4,000 kilometres across Nigeria.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the ambitious project was designed to connect key economic corridors, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, while integrating rail infrastructure with gas development, power generation, and transmission systems.