The Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) has officially handed over the Port Harcourt-Aba section of the Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway Project to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) after taking possession of the completed assets from the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nig. Limited.
The contractor, on Thursday, at a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt, handed over the assets, which include 283.060 km of dismantled tracks, 62.800 km of rehabilitated and reconstructed subgrade, and 62.800 km of rail laid for the main line.
The handed-over assets by the contractor also include the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 27 sets of turnouts at various stations, the rehabilitation of four existing steel bridges, and the reconstruction of one concrete bridge.
Additionally, 10 existing culverts were rehabilitated, 12 new culverts were reconstructed, and 35 level crossings were reconstructed. The contractor also constructed 33,275 meters of drainage.
The contractor submitted the technical specifications and maintenance manual of the Port Harcourt-Aba section of the project to the consultant, Khairi-Jamub Global Services, and the client, Federal Ministry of Transportation.
The Port Harcourt-Aba rail project is part of the larger Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway Project, which aims to connect five geopolitical zones in the country.
The project is expected to improve socio-economic activities, boost trade, and facilitate ease of movement among the regions involved.
However, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) officially took over the Port Harcourt-Aba section of the Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway Project.
The handing-over ceremony was attended by Ogunade Adesegun, Deputy Director Track and Civil from the Nigerian Railway Corporation, who represented the Managing Director of NRC, Ben Iloanusi.
According to Adesegun, the NRC is now responsible for the operation and maintenance of the rail section, which spans Kilometers 0-62.
He noted that the commercial aspect of the train has been running smoothly, providing easier, faster, and cheaper transportation for passengers and goods.
