The first section of what was then known as the Lagos railway opened between Iddo in Lagos and Ibadan in 1901, a distance of 129 miles. This was extended in sections over the next 11 years to reach Minna where it connected with the separate Baro to Kano railway. At this time Nigeria was still divided into Northern & Southern Protectorates and the railway to Baro was built to connect the northern capital at Kano with the River Niger at Baro, to provide through transportation to the coast. Following this connection the combined system was renamed the Nigerian Railway.
In 1913 work commenced at Port Harcourt on a 290 mile long line to Makurdi reached in 1923, to connect with the recently discovered Udi coalfield. This was later extended to Kaduna, so linking the line with the rest of the system. On both lines train ferries were initially required to cross major rivers to provide a through service. On the western line this was at Jebba, to cross the River Niger that was finally replaced with a bridge in January 1916; whilst on the eastern line this was at Makurdi to cross the River Benue which was not replaced by a bridge until 1932.
Apart from the Cape gauge lines there was also the Bauchi Light Railway. The 133 mile long 2ft 6in gauge line opened in 1914 from Zaria on the western line to serve a tin mining area near Jos which was eventually closed on 30th September 1957, many years after Jos had been reached by a Cape gauge branch from Kafanchan on the Port Harcourt line.
Until recently lack of both investment and maintenance has resulted fewer services & even none at times as a result of periods of bankruptcy. Major investment has since resulted in a new double track standard gauge line between Lagos & Ibadan and another standard gauge line between Abuja & Kaduna. Work is also in progress on another between Kano & Maradi in Niger that will probably result in the Kano to Ibadan line being regauged.

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