The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that the Federal Government has begun the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Eastern railway corridor.
Victor Adamu, the Railway District Manager for the Eastern District, Enugu, disclosed this during a national survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the state of abandoned railway lines across the country.
Adamu said work on the narrow gauge railway line has commenced, beginning from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Aba in Abia State.
The line forms part of the broader Eastern corridor that runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State, passing through several states.
“This district covers Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, and part of Egbede in Benue State, which marks our boundary with the North Central District. It spans about 110 kilometers,” he explained.
He added that the segment of the project was officially handed over to the NRC on November 28, 2024, and that passenger train services now operate between Port Harcourt and Aba five days a week.
Although work from Aba through Umuahia to Enugu has been temporarily suspended, Adamu assured that the Federal Government is making efforts to resume work on the remaining parts of the corridor soon.
According to him, the renewed efforts are part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at reviving critical national infrastructure. He emphasized that the Eastern rail line rehabilitation is a key project that would benefit the Southeast and other parts of Nigeria.
“In April, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, visited Enugu and held productive discussions with the governors of Abia and Enugu States. We expect significant progress on this corridor as a result of that visit,” Adamu said.
He further revealed that the Tinubu administration has introduced a policy enabling state governments to invest in railway infrastructure. States like Anambra, Abia, and Enugu have indicated their readiness to support the initiative.
“With this policy, we are optimistic that the benefits will soon be visible,” he noted.
However, Adamu identified vandalism as the biggest challenge facing the NRC, particularly the destruction and theft of railway track materials and other infrastructure. He said the NRC is working closely with the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the military, and local vigilantes to safeguard railway assets.
He confirmed that several arrests have been made in Imo, Rivers, and Enugu states, with some suspects already facing trial.
“These rail facilities are national assets and must be protected. Our officials continue to patrol and monitor installations to prevent further damage,” he said.
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The railway operations in Enugu had been inactive for over two decades before the current rehabilitation efforts began.
