The Federal Ministry of Transportation has reaffirmed its commitment to the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway, addressing ongoing works and progress on the project.
The Port Harcourt -Maiduguri narrow gauge railway rehabilitation project was awarded to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in November 2020. The Port Harcourt to Aba section has been fully rehabilitated, and train services are currently operational along this corridor. Meanwhile, rehabilitation works from Aba to Enugu are ongoing, with substructure works completed and superstructure works in progress.
The railway rehabilitation project is being carried out in sections, covering:
- Port Harcourt to Aba
- Aba to Kafanchan
- Kafanchan to Kuru (Jos)
- Kuru to Maiduguri
The Ministry acknowledged funding constraints as the primary cause of delays but assured that efforts are underway to secure the necessary funds to expedite the completion of the project.
Regarding the Gombe section, the Ministry clarified that a reconnaissance survey was conducted in 2024 as part of preliminary works for the remaining sections of the railway. However, no construction work is currently taking place in Gombe.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation reiterated its commitment to connecting the entire country through rail infrastructure in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring improved transportation and economic growth for all regions.
