NRC Adds Extra Lagos-Ibadan Train Trips For Sallah Rush

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has added extra trips on the Lagos-Ibadan train corridor ahead of Sallah, a temporary move aimed at easing the usual holiday rush on one of the country’s busiest passenger routes.

Daily Post and Leadership both reported that the adjustment takes effect on Tuesday, May 26, when the corporation will run six trips instead of the usual four.

The announcement comes as many families begin planning movement for Eid-el-Kabir, a period that usually puts extra pressure on road transport, rail bookings and intercity fares.

Six trips will run on Tuesday

According to NRC spokesperson Callistus Unyimadu, trains from Lagos will depart at 7:45 a.m., 1:40 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., while the Ibadan departures are scheduled for 8:00 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The corporation said the extra services are tied specifically to the Sallah travel window, when passenger demand typically climbs as people head out to spend the holiday with family.

For travellers on the Lagos-Ibadan route, the extra round trips should reduce some of the ticket pressure on Tuesday. It may also help passengers who would otherwise be forced onto bus routes at a time when road traffic and fares often rise.

Schedule returns to normal after the holiday

NRC also said its recently introduced Thursday six-trip pattern will be adjusted for the holiday period, with only four trips running on Thursday, May 28, before the regular timetable resumes the following week.

That means the change is not a permanent service expansion. It is a short holiday adjustment, targeted at the days when demand is expected to rise most sharply.

For regular passengers, the message is simple: if you have been struggling with ticket pressure on the corridor, Tuesday should be easier than usual. It is a short-term relief, but one that will matter to travellers trying to beat the festive rush.

The Lagos-Ibadan railway has become one of the more visible alternatives to road travel in the South-West. During holidays, that visibility matters even more, because families are looking for safer, predictable and reasonably timed movement between both cities.

Sources: Daily Post, Leadership