The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Eastern Railway Corridor, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Mr. Victor Adamu, Railway District Manager for the Eastern District in Enugu, revealed this information on Wednesday while responding to a national survey on railway line abandonment conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Adamu, rehabilitation work has already begun on the narrow gauge tracks from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State. He explained that the narrow gauge traverses the eastern district from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and other parts of Nigeria.
"This district covers Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers and part of Egbede in Benue State, which is our boundary with the north central district of about 110 kilometers," Adamu stated.
The district manager expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting: "I am very happy to state that the segment of the contract was handed over to NRC on Nov. 28, 2024. We have our coaches that are running from Port Harcourt to Aba and back to Port Harcourt, five days in a week."
While acknowledging a temporary suspension of work from Aba through Umuahia to Enugu, Adamu assured that the Federal Government is making concerted efforts to ensure construction and rehabilitation on the remaining sections commence soon.
The district manager highlighted that through President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, work on the narrow gauge has resumed. "This is a project which the Southeast and other parts of the country will benefit from. The Federal Government is doing a lot to see that the rail lines are working again," he emphasized.
In April, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, visited Enugu and held discussions with the governors of Abia and Enugu states. Adamu expressed optimism that these discussions would yield positive developments for the railway corridor.
The rehabilitation of the Eastern Railway Corridor represents a significant infrastructure development that will enhance transportation and economic activities across the eastern region of Nigeria.
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