Nigeria’s railway carried more passengers in 2025, but ended the year slower

The annual figures reached new highs in this series

The railway reported 3,888,661 passengers in 2025, against 3,144,874 in 2024. Passenger receipts went from ₦6.72 billion to ₦7.78 billion. The 2025 passenger count was also above the previous series high of about 3.21 million in 2022. Source 1

The fourth quarter moved in the opposite direction

The 940,476 passengers in the final quarter of 2025 were fewer than the 1,037,113 in the same quarter of 2024. Passenger receipts fell from roughly ₦1.92 billion to ₦1.60 billion. The 2025 high was in the third quarter for passengers and the second quarter for passenger receipts. Source 1

Freight was stronger than passengers in the final quarter

Freight volume rose from 94,750 tons in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 110,480 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Freight receipts increased from ₦391.64 million to ₦397.82 million. Freight and passenger receipts reflect different railway services, so the table keeps them in separate columns. Source 1

Revenue per reported passenger is a calculated ratio

The figure divides nominal passenger receipts by the published passenger count. It can change with trip distance, fare class or which services operate, even without a change in any individual fare. The administrative return does not identify unique travellers or provide enough route detail to explain the ratio. Source 1

Sources

• Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics and Nigerian Railway Corporation, Rail Transport Data Q4 2025