Tag: SWDC

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), South West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Akinola, has justified the bid for the revival of old unserviced rail lines in the Southwest.

He said the effort was aimed at building a regional rail ecosystem that would reduce transportation costs, expand market access, enable rural prosperity, support industrialisation and create jobs for youths across the region.

Speaking during a media interaction, Akinola hailed the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, for welcoming the commission’s proposal on Southwest rail connectivity during the executive management’s working visit to the NRC, Lagos headquarters, last week.

He said Opeifa had assured the SWDC team of positive consideration of the proposals, stressing that the NRC was excited to play its role in efforts to make rail transportation a cornerstone of economic development in Nigeria.

He said NRC was already reviewing SWDC’s application for operational licence, adding that he had instructed the directors to work with the commission’s technical team to draft the appropriate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would bring the requests to life.

According to Akinola, regional rail connectivity will incentivise farming, thereby promoting food security, boosting the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the overall economic prosperity of the region, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the visit to the NRC had advanced SWDC’s technical work on Southwest rail development programme being undertaken by its rail sector technical committee.

The SWDC boss said the commission’s rail development roadmap consisted of short, medium and long-term plans.

In the short term, the commission sought the concessioning of old, unutilised rail routes for immediate operation.

Of particular interest to Akinola is the revival of the historic Idogo route and the reactivation of the Dagbolu-Osogbo–Erunmu-Omi-Adio corridor.

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He said the Idogo route was critical to food security and agricultural evacuation.

He said: “Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states are already serviced by rail. We want to maximise these existing corridors to move foodstuffs into Lagos, and also deliver fast moving consumer goods from Lagos axis to other Southwest consumer markets.

“We want to revive the Idogo route, and indeed extend it to Dagbolu for movement of farm produce in large quantities from Osun, Oyo and Ogun states to Lagos where demand is high. The route will also enhance delivery of fast moving consumer goods from Lagos and Ogun states to other states, thereby boosting commerce, creating jobs and improving cargo movement efficiency.”

For medium-term, Akinola disclosed that SWDC had applied for operational licence for new routes, expressing optimism for prompt approval.

He noted that the commission was exploring opportunities to bring in private sector partners to operate selected rail lines across the region.

“This agenda has previously been advanced by the DAWN Commission, and we are now in a position to fast-track its implementation,” he said.

To advance these proposals, Akinola said  both agencies had agreed on a joint technical team, noting that SWDC was working with the six Southwest governors to build strategic road spurs to rail stations that would link dry ports, industrial hubs and related facilities.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), Dr. Charles Akinola, has informed the commission is working on establishing a South-West Investment Fund to catalyse investment across the six states of the region.

Akinola said the proposed fund, which will be largely private sector-driven, is designed to attract capital for strategic regional projects and address the infrastructure needs of the South-West.

He stated on Thursday at the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue organised by Afenifere, the DAWN Commission, and the South-West Governors’ Forum, held in Akure, Ondo State, with the theme “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future.”

“We are designing a best-in-class investment fund that can attract private capital to finance outstanding regional projects and meet the urgent infrastructure needs of the South-West,” Akinola said.

The SWDC boss explained that the commission is intensifying efforts to achieve greater regional connectivity and integrated development as part of a broader agenda to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity across the region.

According to him, consultations have begun with development partners and private investors to design a framework for intra-regional transportation corridors, agricultural value chain enhancement, and technology-driven industrial clusters linking major cities and rural communities.

He noted that improving road networks, digital infrastructure, and economic linkages would facilitate trade and mobility while strengthening social cohesion and competitiveness across the South-West.

“The development commissions, like the SWDC, focus on regional projects that are often left unattended to. We’re looking at integrative initiatives such as regional connectivity by rail and highways.

“For instance, it took us about four hours to get from Ibadan to Akure, How do we get state governments, the federal government, and the private sector to collaborate on such critical infrastructure?” he asked.

Akinola stressed that the SWDC’s strategy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic transformation agenda and the renewed commitment of South-West governors to a unified development blueprint.

He said improved connectivity will enable the region to leverage its human capital and economic potential to drive national growth, attract investment, and create jobs for millions of young people.

“We will be engaging in the coming weeks with a broad range of stakeholders – communities, governors, trade groups – to define a shared vision for the commission. This inclusiveness is critical to ensuring collective ownership and success,” he stated.

Akinola recalled that he previously chaired the expert group set up by South-West Governors between 2020 and 2021 to produce the technical report that laid the foundation for the establishment of the SWDC.

“We engaged governors across the states to identify priorities and shared perspectives on regional development. It’s an ongoing process. We cannot succeed without the active participation of the governors and the people,” he noted.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working closely with traditional rulers, trade groups, youth associations, and market women to drive a shared vision of prosperity for the region.

“We stand on a covenant with the people of the South-West that we will do our best. Together with our partners, the governors, Kabiyesis, trade groups, and communities, we will pursue a united vision to drive prosperity through the work of the South-West Development Commission,” Akinola declared.