Port Harcourt and Aba commuters will now have the option of traveling by railroad following the commencement of train services between the two commercial cities.
The Minister of Transportation Said Akali flagged off the train services Tuesday at the Port Harcourt train station after the take off of the 62km corridor had been cancelled twice. The minister and his entourage took the first train ride from Port Harcourt to Aba.
Alkali said the ceremony was part of the intensified drive by the Federal Government to facilitate trade, enhance mobility and accessibility, and ensure connectivity between the southern parts of the country and the northeastern part of the country.
He said the rehabilitation project was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company with a completion timeline of 36 months.
“Due to several technical and contractual issues, the project commenced in March 2022,” said Senator Akali.
“It is worthy to note that the scope of the project covers the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge railway line, the construction of new modern stations, and the procurement of new modern rolling stock.
“This railway line will also link the ports of Onne, Bonny, and Port-Harcourt to facilitate the evacuation of goods and other freight through the Eastern Corridor.
“The Federal Government, in the contractual agreement, is to provide 15 per cent of the direct construction cost, inclusive of land acquisition and value-added tax, while a bank loan through direct construction cost is to cover 85 per cent of the project.”
He further said that the commencement of operations along this section of the project aims to boost economic activities between the South-South and South-East regions of the country pending completion of the other sections of the project.
“With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry will continue to vigorously drive Messrs CCECC towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181-kilometre Aba-Enugu stretch.
“Commencement of operations on this stretch of the project aligns with priority five of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Priority Areas, which identify enhanced infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth for the economy.”
