FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMPLETES PORT-HARCOURT – ABA NARROW GAUGE RAIL LINE

The Eastern Railway line is a massive project that when completed will link Port Harcourt to Maiduguri through Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Plateau, Bauchi, and Yobe. The project will be undertaken by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the funding support of $3bn from Chinese financiers, the execution was awarded to the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) and measures 1,443 km of 1,067 mm narrow gauge rail line.

The project aims to link the South-South, South-East, North-Central and North-Eastern parts of Nigeria through a rail transportation Network, this will improve the socio-economic activities, boost trade, and facilitate ease of movement among the regions involved in the project. 

Nigeria is battling with a high food inflation rate, the bulk of which is due to the insecurity in the north and the subsequent removal of fuel subsidies. Completion of this project will have a positive impact on food inflation as it will be cheaper to haul food products from the north by rail than the road, also industrial grade goods and imported items can be moved from the south-south and southeast to other parts easily. It is for these reasons and more that President Tinubu promised to “… prioritise the completion of Port Harcourt – Maiduguri rail”.

The Port Harcourt-Aba project is part of the larger Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railroad project initiated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), made it known that the line connecting Port Harcourt to Aba was done. He revealed this information while leading a delegation to inspect the project. He said train services would commence in a few months as soon as the finishing touches are completed on the tracks. 

“The project from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is not yet completed. They (contractors) are working in phases, and they have laid tracks up to Aba.”

The progress shown in the project showed that the project has continued since the last administration and a milestone has been achieved; Port Harcourt to Aba completed. The project is still “in the works” and there is major progress being made.

‍