The Federal Government has officially inaugurated the Port Harcourt to Aba rail service, marking a significant milestone in the transportation infrastructure of the region.
The launch ceremony, presided over by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, took place in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
During the ceremonial launch, Minister Alkali assured the people of the region that the newly inaugurated trains would operate efficiently to serve their transportation needs.
He also pledged to continue the expansion of the rail network until the Eastern Standard Gauge from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is fully completed, further enhancing connectivity and economic development in the area.
Following the ceremonial flag-off, Minister Alkali and other government officials boarded the train for its inaugural journey to Aba, symbolizing the commencement of regular rail operations along the route.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, expressed delight that the project was completed within the April deadline set for its implementation.
Okhiria highlighted the plans to further integrate the rail system by linking the Onne Port to the rails, facilitating the movement of goods to key cities such as Aba, Umuahia, and Enugu.
In a statement earlier in March, Okhiria emphasized the importance of the project and outlined the steps taken to ensure its timely execution.
He underscored the significance of physical site assessments in finalizing the design and expressed optimism about meeting the proposed timeline for project commencement.
