SWDC Secures Rail License to Boost Southwest Connectivity

The Southwest Development Company (SWDC) has obtained a rail license to operate a narrow standard gauge rail network aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic transformation across the southwest of Nigeria. This license allows SWDC to utilize existing rail corridors to provide passenger and freight services, connecting key economic hubs in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.

Dr. Charl Diji Akinola, the Managing Director and CEO of SWDC, described this development as a significant step in implementing a major transit plan that will not only facilitate the movement of goods and people but also address logistical bottlenecks in the region. The initiative is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve freight efficiency, and strengthen agricultural market access, thereby boosting exports and creating jobs across multiple sectors.

The SWDC aims to collaborate with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to integrate freight systems and enhance the overall logistics framework in the southwest.