Federal government has announced a four-day complimentary train service on the Port Harcourt-Aba 62km rail line from May 1 to May 4, 2024, aimed at promoting the use of the railway system.
In a statement issued by Muhammad Tahir Zakari for director, Press and Public Relations, the ministry said that the minister of transportation, Senator Said Alkali made this declaration during the official flag off of the Port Harcourt-Aba 62km Rail Services in Port Harcourt.
Alkali underscored transportation as one of the key priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, highlighting the focus on the eastern rail corridor project since assuming office.
“We are inaugurating the train service from Port-Harcourt to Aba. I extend gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering support to the Ministry and his dedication to serving the people,” said the minister.
The minister emphasized that the completion of this project is vital to the socio-economic progression of the country. This is even as he disclosed that the Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri rehabilitation and reconstruction rail project cuts across the five geo-political zones of South-South, South-East, North-Central and the North-West.
In cognisance of current economic realities, the minister assured that the ministry is currently assessing a proposition on the retrofitting from diesel-powered locomotives to liquefied natural gas by an investor. He assured that bringing this to reality will facilitate re-evaluation of current train tickets across the train service corridors.
At the flag-off, the managing director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria, during a media chat, disclosed that the locomotives and coaches used for the flag-off are refurbished ones. He, however assured that the contractor Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) is expected to deliver soon 50 narrow gauge locomotives and 100 narrow gauge coaches to be deployed along existing train corridors in the country.
He assured the public of NRC’s commitment to offer better services, adding that containers can also be transported via this channel from Port-Harcourt to Aba.
The minister and other officials including the ministry’s permanent secretary, Oloruntola Olufemi, and Okhiria conducted an assessment and short ride on the commissioned train service from Port Harcourt to Aba, accompanied by some traditional rulers.