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The Nigeria Railway Corporation plans to spend ₦40.4 million on professional advisory and consultancy services in the 2026 financial year, according to details in its proposed budget.
The allocation is contained in the 2026 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
The consultancy spending is listed under professional advisory services.
The NRC’s total proposed budget for 2026 stands at ₦34.24 billion, with major allocations directed at repairs, procurement and maintenance, according to a Punch report.
Analysts say this focus follows a series of rail accidents and operational incidents recorded in 2025.
“The total size of the NRC budget was N34,239,970,461 for the year 2026. Repairs, procurement, and maintenance were conspicuous items in the budget. This may not be unconnected to the landmark accidents and incidents that shaped the year 2025,” the report read.
One such incident occurred on August 26, when a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed shortly after departure, causing several coaches to overturn and triggering panic among passengers.
Budget documents show that personnel costs account for ₦22.38 billion, including ₦16.09 billion for salaries and wages. Capital expenditure is projected at ₦11.65 billion, covering asset acquisition and rehabilitation.
According to budget details reviewed by The Punch, the NRC plans to spend ₦1.18 billion on procuring and rehabilitating locomotives and rolling stock for standard-gauge rail lines, while ₦1.91 billion is earmarked for rolling stock on the narrow-gauge network.
Diesel costs are estimated at ₦1.4 billion.
Other planned expenditures include ₦560 million for track rehabilitation, ₦350 million for “the rehabilitation of access roads to stations, rest houses, workshops, chalets, and operational residential quarters”, and ₦700 million for spare parts.
The budget also provides ₦420 million for the construction of a station and platform on the Itakpe–Aladja rail line.
