The Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, has disclosed that train services would begin in a few months at the 63-kilometre Port Harcourt-Aba railway as the Federal Government completed the project.
According to the Nation, Okhiria disclosed this on Wednesday while leading a delegation to inspect the project, adding the rain services would begin in a few months as soon as finishing touches are done on the tracks.
The Port Harcourt-Aba project is part of the larger Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railroad project initiated by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking further, Okhiria said, “The project from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is not yet completed. Contractors are working in phases, and they have laid tracks up to Aba. We are so anxious to begin operation, therefore, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, directed us to come and inspect the project so that we can plan ahead of the operations.
“We inspected from Port Harcourt to Aba, and we can confirm the main tracks have reached Aba in Abia.”
Okhiria said contractors were still installing loop and side lines, so that rail services can start immediately.
“As we speak, you can put a locomotive on the track to Aba, but that will not be good enough for commercial purposes, hence, we are working hard to resume operations. We are looking to start operations within months, and we have drawn a timeline. If we don’t start running on the track, it will go bad, and vandals will take possession. We are going to meet and work out possible plan; so very soon, Port Harcourt-Aba train services will start,” he added.
The NRC MD warned against vandalizing the rail tracks in order to allow the people to directly benefit from the project.
