The Eastern Narrow Guage Railway flagged off in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, March 9, recorded maximum gains as the address by the Special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari ,and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, received sincere ovation from the people of the state.
Buhari said his administration was committed to further expanding the once vibrant railway Transportatlion in the Eastern Railway Corridor of the country from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri to achieve contemporary demand for transport in the North East to the South Eastern geopolitical zones of the country.
The President said the project is designed to link other rail lines under construction in other zones
According to him, the project is being funded through loan covering 85 per cent while the Federal Government contribute 15 percent as counterpart funding.
The President stated that, the Bonny Deep Sea Port project and the Railway Industrial Park would be funded through direct investment by the CCECC.adding that the project is designed to be a regional Industrial hub for transportation of raw materials and delivery of other goods and services.
He said by the commencement of work, the Eastern guage which had been neglected over the years will be reactivated as it would play a major role in local, regional and continental trade.
He urged business owners to take advantage of the rail infrastructure and build businesses along the routes to boost economic activities and strengthen the leadership position of Nigeria in Africa.
On his part, the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi who had a brief time on the podium said the Eastern Narrow Guage is an expansion of railway to meet up with transport infrastructure need of the country
Amaechi traced the origin of the Eastern Narrow Guage Railway to pre- independence period saying the infrastructure played a significant role in the development of Agriculture and Industrial sectors of the colonial era and post colonial until 1985 when it became disused.
Amaechi said attempts by previous governmentt to re- energize the railways did not achieve the desired result as a result of inadequate funding, and incompetence of some of the contractors awarded to fix it hence the rail line remained unserviceable.
He said due to the compelling need for functional rail transport infrastructure in the Eastern Corridor as supply chain for products and services vanishes and transportation of goods such as Agricultural products, Petroleum Resources, iron and steel became minimized. the Federal Government therefore saw the need to focus on its revival.
Amaechi said as the Minister of Transportation,he had secured the approval of two projects ,first, the re- construction of the narrow gauge rail line, second is the construction of,1500 kilometers standard guage rail line for the eastern corridor
The Minister said upon completion, the Eastern Narrow Guage Railway services will run at 80-100 per hour. The Bonny Deep Sea Port has a capacity of 100,000 DMT container vessels and 50,000 (DMT) bulk vessel.adding that other rail lines in the East are undergoing feasibility study.
The occasion attracted several dignitaries including governors,APC Acting Natiional Executive, Ministers, Traditional rulers, Businessmen and Women, as well as mamoth crowd from Port Harcourt and environs.
A chief who attended the occasion told current matters that the railway decades ago was a beehive of activities.
He lauded the President and the Minister for the landmark achievement of flagging off the Eastern Narrow Guage Railway and expressed optimism that it would re- engineer business prosperity and provide jobs for a lot of people.
” This project reminds me of many years ago, Then railway transport was very popular. People traded along the routes. There were all kinds of jobs for people looking for jobs. I have no doubt that this project would give us an opportunity to prosper again”.he said
A staff of the railway said the commencement of the rail line was a good development as it would turn things around for not only the staff but Nigerians.
” I like what has happened here today. We haven’t seen this before . I thank God that at least something is being done to bring the railway back.
” May God bless the President Muhammadu Buhari, May God bless Amaechi ” he said
