On Tuesday, the Federal Government opened the Port Harcourt-Aba rail route to commercial train service for the general public.

Said Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, opened commercial services throughout the 62-kilometer Port-Harcourt-Aba line at the inauguration at the Port Harcourt railway station.

Alkali emphasised that the occasion was a component of the Federal Government’s initiatives to strengthen connectivity, increase trade, and enhance mobility between northeastern and southern Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Transportation awarded China Civil Engineering and Construction Company the rehabilitation project, which is scheduled to be completed in 36 months, according to the minister.

The minister stated: “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.

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“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.”

Pending the completion of the remaining project parts, he stated that the start of the train line’s operations will stimulate economic activity between the nation’s South-South and South-East regions.

“With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry will continue to vigorously drive 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,” he said.

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