The Federal Government has inaugurated a 6.2-kilometer (KM) Port Harcourt-Aba railway project, signaling the beginning of train service between Abia and Rivers states.
Sen. Saidu Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, made the announcement on Tuesday at the train service’s in-ceremony in Port Harcourt.
The 1,443-kilometer Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail project, according to Alkali, includes the project.
According to him, the project’s Port Harcourt to Aba segment was the first in the Eastern narrow-gauge railway, which aims to link the nation’s five geopolitical zones.
“The Federal Government is pleased to inaugurate the train service from Port Harcourt to Aba, a key priority area of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
“We are thankful to God that the Port Harcourt to Aba section is finished, as it will help the people.”
“The five geopolitical zones of the country—South-South, South-East, North-Central, North-West, and North-East—are covered by the Eastern narrow gauge,” he stated.
Alkali added that the federal government will soon start building the Aba to Enugu rail project, which will connect the two states, after the first segment is finished and the rail service begins to operate for profit.
In order to further lower transportation costs, he continued, his ministry is collaborating with investors to guarantee that locomotives around the nation are converted from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG).
“Passenger train service has started today; we’ll be traveling by train from Port Harcourt to Aba in a short while.”
“We will proceed with the project to provide goods services from Aba to Enugu and from Port Harcourt to the seaports of Onne and Port Harcourt.”
“To further reduce transportation costs, the ministry is currently in discussion with an investor to convert our locomotive from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG),” he stated.
In order to provide sufficient security along the train routes, the minister gave Nigerians assurances that plans were being made with security agencies.
He also said that from May 1 to May 4, there would be free train trips from Port Harcourt to Aba.
“The train will run daily at 8 a.m. from Port Harcourt to Aba and 3 p.m. from Aba to Port Harcourt.”
“On May 7, 2024, full commercial operations will resume,” he declared.
