The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has added extra trips to its Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe train services for Thursday, June 5, 2025, in response to increased passenger demand during the Eid-al-Kabir festive period.
According to a press release signed by Callistus Unyimadu, Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS) will now include an additional mid-day trip departing Lagos at 1:55 p.m. and an extra return trip from Ibadan at 11:03 a.m. The previously scheduled 4:00 p.m. train from Ibadan will now depart at 4:46 p.m.
In addition to the Lagos-Ibadan corridor, NRC will operate a special train service on the Warri-Itakpe route, which typically does not run on Thursdays due to scheduled maintenance. This special operation is intended to support smooth travel for Muslim faithful and other commuters during the celebration.
“In response to the increased passenger demand during the festive period, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has added an extra trip to its Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS) for Thursday, 5th June 2025:
“Lagos to Ibadan:
“8:00 AM
“1:55 PM (Additional Trip)
“4:00 PM
“Ibadan to Lagos:
“8:00 AM
“11:03 AM (Additional Trip)
“4:46 PM (Note: The 4:00 PM train will now depart at 4:46 PM)
“Additionally, in the spirit of Eid-al-Kabir and to ensure smooth travel for Muslim faithful and other passengers on the Warri-Itakpe corridor, the NRC will operate a Special Train Service on Thursday, 5 June, 2025, which would ordinarily be a non-operational day reserved for maintenance,” the statement read in part.
More insights
To accommodate the festive adjustments, the Nigerian Railway Corporation rescheduled the routine maintenance on the Warri-Itakpe corridor—originally set for Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 8, 2025. This temporary shift allows for uninterrupted passenger movement during the Eid-al-Kabir holiday.
- Meanwhile, operations on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) will remain unaffected. NRC has, however, deployed additional coaches on this corridor to cater to the expected surge in passenger traffic during the festive season.
In his remarks, NRC’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, extended warm holiday wishes to travelers, emphasizing the Corporation’s dedication to providing safe, reliable, and customer-centric rail services. He reiterated that the NRC remains committed to supporting national mobility, especially during high-demand periods.
What you should know
- The Federal Government earlier declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, 2025, as public holidays to mark Eid-ul-Adha, leaving Thursday, June 5, as the last working day before the break.
- The NRC’s decision to add extra train trips on the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe corridors—and deploy more coaches on the Abuja-Kaduna line—is significant, as many Nigerians are expected to take advantage of Thursday to begin their journeys ahead of the long weekend.
- By adjusting schedules and increasing capacity, the NRC is helping to ease the pressure on intercity transport routes, especially for travelers visiting family or heading out of major urban centres for the Sallah celebration.
