The commercial train service for the Port Harcourt-Aba line began operation on Tuesday, with Nigerians expressing joy and relief, reports Persecondnews.
Inaugurating the train service on the 62-km Port-Harcourt-Aba corridor at the Port Harcourt railway station, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Said Alkali, said the event was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to boost trade, improve mobility, and ensure connectivity between southern and northeastern Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation contracted China Civil Engineering and Construction Company for the rehabilitation project, with an expected completion time of 36 months, according to the minister.
The minister said: “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.
“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 percent 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 percent of the project.”
He said the start of the rail line’s operations will boost economic activity between the country’s South-South and South-East regions, pending the completion of the other sections of the project.
“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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