The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing reconstruction of the Port Harcourt to Aba/Umuahia narrow gauge railway will commence operations by January 2024.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, conveyed this commitment while addressing journalists in Enugu after a meeting with Governor Peter Mbah.
Okhiria also addressed public concerns about the use of a narrow gauge for the Port Harcourt to Enugu route, clarifying that a standard gauge contract has been awarded.
He cited financial constraints, projecting a cost exceeding of 13 billion dollars, as the reason for adopting a phased approach, with approximately 3 billion dollars allocated to the ongoing reconstruction.
“So, to keep the Eastern axis, if you forget about the rail now, you may never have it”.
“So, you have to have something as old as they are, operating to keep reminding us that we have to do better”.
“To construct a standard gauge from Port Harcourt is over 13 billion dollars, and what we are doing now to reconstruct it is about 3 billion dollars, and the government felt that why don’t we do this while we are sourcing the money (13 billion dollars). The two can happen simultaneously”.
“And we are assuring the people that by January 2024, Port Harcourt to Aba/Umuahia will start operating and work will continue from Umuahia to Enugu. We don’t wait for all the track to be ready, where we finish, we start operation”.
“That’s why, Port Harcourt/Aba, within few months, Umuahia to Enugu, we progress like that, pending when we get the money”.
“They’re supposed to be working simultaneously from Maiduguri down to Markurdi and Jos”, the NRC MD explained.
Governor Peter Mbah, in his remarks during the meeting, stressed the need for a collaborative partnership between the State and Federal government in delivering meaningful democratic benefits to the citizens.
Editor: Ken Eseni
