Lagos to Ibadan Train 2026: Fares, Schedule and Booking
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Updated 28 September 2026 · Wigmore Trading, Lagos
Quick answer
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) runs the Lagos–Ibadan train from Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta, to Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya. The fares are ₦3,600 regular (₦3,000 for a child), ₦6,500 business and ₦13,000 first class, according to NRC’s official fares page (checked September 2026). From Sunday to Thursday there are two departures each way, at 8:00am and 4:00pm. Fridays and Saturdays have three departures each way. The trip takes about 2½ hours, and you book online with your NIN.
At a glance
- Operator: Nigerian Railway Corporation, Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS)
- Line: standard gauge, about 157 km, inaugurated 10 June 2021
- Lagos station: Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta (between Yaba and Oyingbo)
- Ibadan station: Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya (north Ibadan)
- Stop on the way: Abeokuta (Wole Soyinka Station)
- Journey time: roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes
- Booking: NRC e-ticketing (nrc.gsds.ng or the NRC app). You need a NIN, and you pay by card or transfer.
In this guide
- Lagos to Ibadan train fares in 2026
- Lagos to Ibadan train schedule (timetable)
- Stations: where you board and where you land
- How to book your ticket, step by step
- Train vs bus vs driving: which is better?
- Practical tips and how to avoid ticket scams
- Frequently asked questions
Lagos to Ibadan train fares in 2026
The fares below are from NRC’s official fares page (checked September 2026). The page is undated. Some older reports and 2026 booking guides still quote ₦9,000 for first class, but the official page lists ₦13,000. Check the price on the e-ticketing site before you pay.
| Class | Lagos ⇄ Ibadan | Lagos ⇄ Abeokuta | Abeokuta ⇄ Ibadan |
|---|---|---|---|
| First class | ₦13,000 | ₦9,000 | ₦6,000 |
| Business | ₦6,500 | ₦4,500 | ₦3,000 |
| Regular (adult) | ₦3,600 | ₦3,000 | ₦2,000 |
| Regular (minor) | ₦3,000 | ₦2,000 | ₦1,000 |
Source: NRC’s official fares page (checked September 2026; the page is undated). The fare is the same in both directions.
What you get in each class
- Regular: air-conditioned coaches with 2×3 seating and overhead racks. It gives you the best value, but it sells out first on Fridays and before holidays.
- Business: 2×2 seating with more legroom and a quieter coach. It is a good choice if you want to work on the way.
- First class: the most space. NRC describes its first-class coaches as fully air-conditioned.
Children and minors pay ₦3,000 in regular class. In business and first class, adults and children pay the same fare. According to 234Drive’s 2026 guide, children under three travel free if they sit on a parent’s lap.
Worked example: a family of four
Two adults and two children in regular class, one way: (2 × ₦3,600) + (2 × ₦3,000) = ₦13,200. The same family in business class pays 4 × ₦6,500 = ₦26,000. Add the cost of getting to Ebute Metta in Lagos and from Moniya into Ibadan town, as these rides can cost more than the difference between classes.
Lagos to Ibadan train schedule (timetable)
The timetable depends on the day of the week. NRC added a third daily trip in each direction on Fridays and Saturdays in November 2024. NRC trialled the three-trip pattern on Thursdays in April 2026, but its official schedules page (checked September 2026) lists Thursday with Sunday to Wednesday: two trips each way.
| Days | Lagos → Ibadan departs | Ibadan → Lagos departs |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday–Thursday | 8:00am (arr. ~10:30am) 4:00pm (arr. ~6:33pm) |
8:00am (arr. ~10:33am) 4:00pm (arr. ~6:33pm) |
| Friday and Saturday | 7:15am (arr. ~10:18am) 1:40pm (arr. ~4:01pm) 4:00pm (arr. ~6:33pm) |
8:00am (arr. ~10:30am) 10:50am (arr. ~1:11pm) 4:30pm (arr. ~7:03pm) |
Source: NRC’s official schedules page (accessed September 2026). Older NRC announcements gave the first Friday/Saturday departure from Lagos as 7:45am; the official schedules page shows 7:15am. Check your ticket.
Holiday timetables: around Easter, Sallah and Christmas, NRC often adds trips or shifts the timetable, usually at short notice through its X account (@info_NRC) and the press. For Easter 2026 it ran the three-trip pattern on Thursday 2 April. For Sallah it ran six trips on Tuesday 26 May and cut Thursday 28 May back to four. Check NRC’s channels in the week before any public holiday.
Stations: where you board and where you land
Lagos: Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta
This is the big terminal off Murtala Muhammed Way, between Yaba and Oyingbo. From the mainland you can get there by BRT or taxi. The Lagos Red Line commuter rail (Agbado–Oyingbo, opened October 2024) stops at Yaba and Oyingbo on either side of it. That helps if you live along the Agege–Ikeja–Oshodi corridor, but the Red Line’s own Ebute Metta stop is still listed as a later phase. Leave time for Third Mainland Bridge and Yaba traffic if you are coming from the Island.
Ibadan: Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya
Moniya is on the northern edge of Ibadan, about 20–30 minutes by road from the city centre. That time grows in traffic. Plan a taxi, ride-hail or pickup in advance, especially for the last train, which gets in after dark.
Abeokuta: Wole Soyinka Station
All trains stop at Abeokuta for a few minutes. That makes the train handy for Abeokuta itself, and the part fares in the table above apply.
How to book your ticket, step by step
NRC sells Lagos–Ibadan tickets through its e-ticketing system. Its official website links the portal as nrc.gsds.ng, and there is also an NRC mobile app. Cash is no longer the normal way to pay at stations.
- Create an account on nrc.gsds.ng or the NRC app. You need an active email address, a phone number and your National Identification Number (NIN).
- Log in and choose your route: for example, Lagos (Mobolaji Johnson) to Ibadan (Moniya), one-way or return.
- Pick your date, train and class. Sales open only a short time before departure. Guides report a window of one to two days, so you cannot book weeks ahead.
- Enter each passenger’s details, including a NIN where asked.
- Pay by debit card or bank transfer.
- Save the e-ticket (QR code) that comes by email. Show it with a valid photo ID at the station.
Tickets are for the specific train you booked. 234Drive’s 2026 guide says they are non-refundable, so check the date and time before you pay. If online booking fails, the station ticket office can help, but on busy days walk-up seats may be gone.
Train vs bus vs driving: which is better?
| Option | Typical cost (one way) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (regular) | ₦3,600 | ~2½ hrs + station transfers | Cheapest, predictable, no traffic on the way |
| Park bus (e.g. Ojota) | ~₦6,200 (March 2026) | 1½–3 hrs depending on traffic | Leaving whenever the bus fills |
| Oyo Pacesetter bus | ₦5,000 (from Feb 2025) | Road time | Ikeja ⇄ Eleyele with AC and Wi-Fi |
| Own car | ~₦18,000 petrol (estimate) | ~1½ hrs with light traffic | Groups, luggage, door-to-door |
Sources: TheCable (March 2026 park fares); Tribune (January 2025, Pacesetter fare); Rome2rio (133 km road distance); Vanguard (September 2026 petrol at ₦1,350–₦1,360/litre). The car estimate assumes about 10 km per litre and ₦1,360 per litre.
The train is cheapest per seat, and the time on board is predictable. The catch is the transfers at each end. If you live in Lekki or Ajah, or you are heading to south Ibadan (Ring Road, Challenge), a bus from a park may get you there sooner overall. For a full breakdown of road, train and car costs, see our guide to how much it costs to travel from Lagos to Ibadan.
Moving stock between Lagos and Ibadan?
Passenger trains carry passengers, not your cartons. Wigmore Trading runs its own vans and trucks out of Lagos and handles road haulage and distribution for traders and brands. Tell us what you are moving and where, and we will quote it.
Practical tips and how to avoid ticket scams
Before you travel
- Book as soon as sales open, especially for Friday evening, Sunday afternoon and the days before a public holiday.
- Arrive early. Allow at least an hour for security checks and boarding. 234Drive recommends arriving 1–2 hours before departure.
- Carry photo ID that matches the name on the ticket.
- Pack light. 234Drive’s guide puts the limit at 25 kg per passenger. Commercial goods are not allowed, so do not try to move trade stock as luggage.
- Check the last-mile plan. Moniya and Ebute Metta are not where most people’s journeys end, so line up your onward ride before you arrive.
If you are a trader restocking an Ibadan shop, don’t carry the stock on the train. Order at trade prices from Wigmore Wholesale, or keep stock in our Lagos pallet storage service and have it trucked when you need it.
Avoid fake ticket sellers
- Book only through the portal linked from NRC’s official website or the official NRC app. Cloned booking sites have been reported before.
- Don’t pay a stranger on WhatsApp or Instagram who is “helping” you get a sold-out seat. A real e-ticket carries your own name and NIN.
- Don’t share your NIN or card OTP with anyone who calls you about a booking.
The same rule applies to any business you deal with: Wigmore Trading lists its official contact channels on our safety and anti-scam page.
Going further than Ibadan?
The standard gauge line currently ends at Moniya. There is no through train to Osogbo, Ekiti or Abuja on it. If Ibadan is only your first stop, read our guides to travelling from Lagos to Ekiti and whether there is a train from Lagos to Abuja.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the train from Lagos to Ibadan?
₦3,600 in regular class (₦3,000 for a minor), ₦6,500 in business and ₦13,000 in first class, one way. These are the fares on NRC’s official fares page (checked September 2026). Check the price on the booking site before you pay.
What time does the train leave Lagos for Ibadan?
From Sunday to Thursday it leaves at 8:00am and 4:00pm. On Fridays and Saturdays there are departures at 7:15am, 1:40pm and 4:00pm. From Ibadan, the trains leave at 8:00am and 4:00pm, plus 10:50am and 4:30pm on the busier days.
How long is the train ride from Lagos to Ibadan?
About 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes from Ebute Metta to Moniya, including the stop at Abeokuta. The 7:15am Friday and Saturday train is timetabled at just over 3 hours.
Can I buy a Lagos–Ibadan train ticket at the station?
NRC moved the service to e-ticketing in late 2023. Book online with your NIN at nrc.gsds.ng or through the NRC app. Station staff can help, but popular trains often sell out online first, and cash is not the normal way to pay.
Where is the Lagos–Ibadan train station in Lagos?
At Mobolaji Johnson Station in Ebute Metta, between Yaba and Oyingbo on the mainland. In Ibadan, trains arrive at Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya.
Does the Lagos–Ibadan train run on Sundays?
Yes. Sundays follow the two-trips-each-way pattern (8:00am and 4:00pm from both ends).
Is there a train from Lagos to Abuja?
Not as of September 2026. The standard gauge line ends at Ibadan, and the Ibadan–Abuja section has not been built. See our Lagos to Abuja transport guide for the options.
Related guides
- How much does it cost to travel from Lagos to Ibadan? (all options)
- Lagos to Abuja: train, flight, bus and driving compared
- Lagos to Ekiti by road: distance, hours and fares
Sources: NRC fares page (checked September 2026; page undated); 234Drive, Lagos–Ibadan train guide (March 2026); NRC schedules page (accessed September 2026); Nairametrics (November 2024); Daily Trust (April 2026); Vanguard (May 2026); TechCabal (November 2023); TheCable, road fares (March 2026); Vanguard, petrol prices (September 2026). Fares and times are indicative and change often. Confirm on the NRC booking site before you pay.
Related guides
Transport fare: Lagos to IbadanTransport fare: Enugu to LagosSending goods by waybillCourier vs bus park vs truck, with prices
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