From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Federal Government has commenced operations on the completed section of the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Narrow Gauge Line, as part of its intensified drive to facilitate trade, enhance mobility
accessibility and ensure connectivity between the Southern and North-Eastern parts of the country.
The FG said rehabilitation of the 1,443 kilometres Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail project has received priority attention and was set to commence operations on the Port-Harcourt to Aba stretch of the rail project.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, on behalf of the Federal Government flagged off the commencement of the commercial services on the 62.0 kilometers of the Port-Harcourt to Aba corridor on Tuesday.
The project was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) on October 16, 2020, with a completion timeline of 36 months.
He expressed delight that the Port Harcourt -Aba section of the rail line has been completed and due for operation.
Senator Alkali stated that Eastern rail line and generally Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Narrow Gauge is a commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led government Renewed Hope Agenda to make transportation easy for the Nigerians.
According to him, the realization of the rail line rehabilitation was a demonstration of the president who believes in one Nigeria and a fulfillment of promise made and delivered.
Alkali said: “Transportation is one of the priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. We are today to flag off ceremony for operation of Port Harcourt – Aba section.”
Federal Government with the commencement of operations along the section of the project aims to boost economic activities between the South-South and South-East regions of the country pending completion of the other sections of the project.
Also, with the completion of the rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry of Transportation will continue to vigorously drive Messrs CCECC towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181 kilometres Aba-Enugu stretch.
According to that Ministry, the commencement of operations on Port Harcourt – Aba stretch of the project aligns with priority five of the President Tinubu’s ‘Presidential Priority Areas’ which identify “Enhanced Infrastructure and Transportation as Enablers of Growth” to the economy.
Due to several technical and contractual issues, the project commenced in March, 2022. It is worthy to note that the scope of the project covers the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge railway line, construction of new modern stations, and procurement of new modern rolling stock.
This railway line will also link the ports of Onne, Bonny, and Port-Harcourt to facilitate evacuation of goods and sundry freight through the Eastern corridor.
The Federal Government in the contractual agreement is to provide 15 percent of Direct Construction Cost inclusive of land acquisition and Value Added Tax (VAT), while a bank loan through Direct Construction Cost is to cover 85 percent of the project.
It was gathered that facilitation of the bank loan is in progress and is expected to be concluded soon. The progress achieved on project from inception in 2020 to the present date was funded exclusively from the yearly budgetary allocation of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.