Yesterday, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali flagged off the train service in Rivers state.
Speaking at the ceremony of the Port Harcourt- Aba train service which took place at the Port Harcourt Railway Station, the minister said the federal government will continue to expand the rail transportation system which he described as “the bedrock for economic and social development.”
Residents of Rivers and Abia State, especially traders and artisans, expressed joy over the development, saying they have seen democracy at work.
Senator Alkali explained that the next phase of the project will witness the opening of Aba- Enugu and linking of Port Harcourt and Onne ports to the train network with a view to boosting commercial activities in the country.
He added that government will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring the timely completion of all ongoing rail projects across the country, so that Nigerians would have a better life.
While commenting on the all important event, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria said at the initial stage, his agency will carry passengers from Port Harcourt to Aba, free of charge for one week, adding that locomotives are expected to ply the route to and from once daily for one month.
According to the M.D, after a month the number will increase to two batches to and from Port Harcourt- Aba daily.
Okhiria who assured Nigerians of NRC’s untiring effort to better service delivery, maintained that new coaches and locomotives are expected into the country from a Supplier in China, soon.
