The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the long-abandoned Eastern rail corridor, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Speaking during a national survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the state of disused railway infrastructure, the Eastern District Manager of NRC, Mr. Victor Adamu, confirmed the commencement of work on the Port Harcourt – Aba section of the Eastern narrow-gauge railway.
“The reconstruction has started from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Aba in Abia State,” Adamu said, noting that the Eastern rail corridor spans from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State.
He added that the corridor covers critical parts of the southeast, including Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and parts of Benue, and emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Adamu acknowledged that while reconstruction was progressing in some parts, work between Aba in Umuahia and Enugu is currently on hold. However, he assured that plans were underway for work to resume on the remaining stretch.
He also revealed that train services have resumed five days a week between Port Harcourt and Aba.
Highlighting a new railway investment policy under Tinubu’s administration, Adamu disclosed that Anambra, Abia, and Enugu State governments are preparing to invest in railway infrastructure.
“This is a project that the Southeast and other parts of Nigeria will benefit from. With state government involvement, we expect faster implementation,” he said.
While celebrating progress, Adamu described vandalism as the greatest challenge facing the Eastern rail corridor. He said the NRC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, NSCDC, military, and local vigilante groups, has made several arrests of suspected vandals in Imo, Rivers, and Enugu states.
“These are national assets, and we all have a role in safeguarding them,” Adamu noted.
Rail operations in Enugu had ceased for over 20 years, but officials now express optimism that full operations will resume soon as rehabilitation continues.
