Evacuation of cargo from Apapa port by rail will resume in next month as stakeholders engage in several meetings to finalise strategy for a smooth take off. 

Vanguard gathered that a meeting of the various stakeholders comprising officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, terminal operators, the Nigerian Railway Corporation and others was held last Friday to put finishing touches to the plan. 

A source at the meeting told Vanguard that the plan is to use both the standard and narrow gauge lines to move containers from Apapa to destinations that have rail connection. 

When contacted, the Customs Area Controller, CAC of Apapa Area1 Command of the Customs, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, confirmed that there was a meeting of the various stakeholders last Friday regarding commencement of rail services. 

Jaiyeoba also confirmed that they are exploring the possibility of using both the standard gauge which can take 36 containers and the narrow gauge that can take 18. 

He stated: “It is true we met with some stakeholders on Friday on how to begin evacuation of cargo by rail from the port. We are working at the commencement of the rail services in three weeks time.”