The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigeria earned N1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2023, representing a 33 per cent increase from N983,874,805 it earned in the first quarter of the year and a 76.6 per cent increase compared to N740 million achieved in Q2, 2022.
A breakdown of the report further revealed that N1.10 billion was generated from passengers. This an increase of 83.88 per cent from the N598.74 million recorded in the same quarter of 2022.
The report said N188 million was received from goods/cargos conveyed same period, but went up by 105.04 percent from N91.70 million received in Q2, 2022. It noted that N18.7 million, indicating a 62.31 per cent decline from N49.73 million was recorded in Q2, 2022.
According to ‘rail transport data Q2 2023’ report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, a total of 474,117 passengers travelled via rail system in the period, as compared to 441,725 and 422,393 in Q1 2023 and the corresponding quarter of 2022.
The volume of goods /cargos transported in the period stood at 56,029 tons compared to 31,197 tons recorded in Q2, 2022.
Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali had during a visit to the Idu train station, pledged that President Bola Tinubu has expressed commitment to addressing the challenges bedevilling railway services in the country.
He said that the ministry was ready to work with the Ministry of Defense to strengthen the security of facilities and passengers.