President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Kayode Opeifa as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC). Opeifa, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, replaces Ben Iloanusi, who had been serving in an acting capacity since the exit of Fidet Okhiria on October 18, 2024, after completing his second four-year tenure.

Opeifa gained prominence as Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation under Governor Babatunde Fashola, where he introduced policies that modernized the state’s transportation system, improved traffic management, and positioned Lagos as a model for urban transport in Africa.

Building on his achievements in Lagos, Opeifa served as the Transport Secretary for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He also played a pivotal role in addressing Lagos’ notorious Apapa gridlock as Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Task Team (PTT). Working alongside former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Opeifa contributed to finding sustainable solutions to decongest Lagos ports, earning national recognition for his expertise.

As the new Managing Director of the NRC, Opeifa is tasked with advancing Nigeria’s rail infrastructure and services, a critical component of the nation’s transportation sector.