The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that the Federal Government has officially commenced the long-anticipated reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Eastern Railway Corridor, beginning with the narrow-gauge section stretching from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State.
Mr. Victor Adamu, Railway District Manager for the Eastern District in Enugu, made this known during a national infrastructure assessment conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, July 10, 2025. The survey aimed to evaluate the status of Nigeria’s abandoned or underutilized railway infrastructure and the federal government’s response to revamping the sector.
Adamu stated that significant work had resumed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on the Eastern rail corridor, which has long suffered neglect despite its strategic importance to Nigeria’s economic development and regional integration.
“The rehabilitation and reconstruction of the narrow gauge tracks have commenced from Port Harcourt to Aba,” he confirmed. “This is part of the Eastern Railway Corridor which stretches from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Maiduguri in Borno State, covering several key locations in southeastern and northeastern Nigeria.”
According to Adamu, the Eastern District includes key states such as Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and Rivers, as well as part of Egbede in Benue State, which serves as the boundary with the North Central district — making up a total rail distance of approximately 110 kilometers in that segment alone.
“I am very happy to state that the segment of the contract was officially handed over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation on November 28, 2024,” Adamu disclosed. “As we speak, our passenger coaches are already operational on the Port Harcourt to Aba route. The train services run five days a week, creating renewed economic activity and transportation relief for commuters in the region.”
However, Adamu also acknowledged that progress on the railway line between Aba and Enugu has faced delays, particularly due to a temporary suspension of work in that segment. Despite the setbacks, he assured that the Federal Government remains committed to completing the entire corridor.
“There is a suspension of work from Aba in Umuahia down to Enugu,” he explained. “But I want to assure Nigerians, especially residents in the southeastern region, that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the remaining parts of the project resume soonest.”
Adamu emphasized the importance of the Eastern Corridor project as a key driver of socioeconomic transformation. He noted that the railway reconstruction is expected to ease the burden of road transport, enhance regional trade, improve logistics for businesses, and provide safer travel options for citizens.
“This is a project which the Southeast and other parts of the country will benefit from immensely,” he added. “The railways provide a cheaper and more efficient means of moving people and goods across the country, and the revival of this corridor is long overdue.”
He further revealed that the ongoing project was one of the key deliverables under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes infrastructure expansion, inter-regional connectivity, and economic revival through large-scale public investments.
“The Federal Government is doing a lot to see that the rail lines are working again,” Adamu said. “We are witnessing a genuine commitment to reviving Nigeria’s railway heritage. This is not just about trains moving — it’s about jobs, trade, safety, and national pride.”
He also commended the support received from political leaders in the region and the central government. According to him, the Managing Director of the NRC, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, paid a crucial visit to Enugu in April 2025, during which key deliberations were held with the governors of Abia and Enugu States to accelerate progress on the corridor.
“Sometime in April, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, visited Enugu and we had some meaningful discussions with the governors of Abia and Enugu states,” Adamu noted. “I believe that the visit will really bring out a lot of things that are going to happen on this corridor.”
Stakeholders in the transport sector have hailed the move as a step in the right direction. Analysts say the rehabilitation of the Eastern rail corridor could open up significant investment opportunities in logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing, while also reducing pressure on Nigeria’s overburdened roads.
The Eastern rail line, which dates back to colonial times, has been largely inactive for decades, prompting widespread calls from citizens and civil society groups for its revival. With construction now underway and passenger services already operational on the Port Harcourt-Aba stretch, optimism is returning to a region that once relied heavily on rail transport for both goods and mobility.
Transport unions, traders, and local business communities in southeastern Nigeria have also welcomed the development, urging the government to expedite work on the remaining segments and ensure that the rail lines are extended to link major commercial centers like Enugu, Makurdi, and ultimately Maiduguri.
“The return of the trains is not just about moving steel on tracks,” said one local transporter in Aba. “It means more business, lower costs, and hope for the ordinary man.”
As the Tinubu administration marks its second year in office, the revival of the Eastern rail corridor is being showcased as a major milestone in national infrastructure development. For millions of Nigerians in the southeast and beyond, the sight and sound of trains once again rolling across their towns and villages is more than symbolic — it is a promise being kept.
