On Tuesday, the Federal Government officially launched commercial train operations on the Port Harcourt-Aba rail line, making it available for public use.
This launch comes after two previous postponements.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, presided over the inauguration ceremony at the Railway Station in Port Harcourt.
He emphasized that this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to facilitate trade, improve mobility, and ensure better connectivity between the southern and northeastern parts of the country.
The rehabilitation project was awarded to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, with a completion timeline of 36 months. Senator Alkali explained that due to technical and contractual issues, the project began in March 2022.
The project scope includes the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge railway line, construction of modern stations, and procurement of new rolling stock.
This railway line will also link the ports of Onne, Bonny, and Port-Harcourt to facilitate the transportation of goods and other freight through the Eastern Corridor.
Under the contractual agreement, the Federal Government is responsible for 15% of the direct construction cost, covering land acquisition and value-added tax, while 85% of the project cost is financed through a bank loan.
The commencement of operations on this section of the project aims to boost economic activities between the South-South and South-East regions of the country, pending the completion of other sections.
The Minister emphasized that the Ministry will continue to work towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181-kilometre Aba-Enugu stretch.
He noted that this project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Priority Areas, particularly in enhancing infrastructure and transportation to stimulate economic growth.
Following the commissioning, the Minister, along with his entourage and members of the public, boarded the train for a ride to Aba, Abia State, marking a significant milestone in the project’s implementation.
