The Nigerian Railway Corporation has warned that the rising price of diesel is putting serious pressure on its train services and making operations increasingly difficult to sustain.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, gave the warning during a staff meeting held in Lagos, where he spoke on the corporation’s financial challenges and ongoing efforts to stabilise operations.

He explained that the organisation is currently a11 heavily on diesel, which has become one of its biggest operational costs. According to him, the situation has pushed the corporation into running at a loss and relying on borrowed funds to keep trains running.

Despite the financial strain, he assured workers that their welfare remains important to management. However, he noted that meaningful improvements would depend on the organisation’s ability to recover financially.

Opeifa also called for continued cooperation between management and labour unions, stressing that dialogue would be used to address workplace concerns and avoid industrial disputes. Representatives of both major railway unions attended the meeting.

Looking ahead, he revealed that the corporation is working on plans to expand rail services, including a proposed high-speed train route between Lagos and Abuja, alongside new infrastructure and staff housing projects.

Union leaders present at the meeting commended recent reforms within the agency but urged management to prioritise the payment of outstanding worker benefits.

The meeting also featured the recognition of 13 staff members who received awards for their contributions to the corporation’s development over the past year.