The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd. (CCECC) has announced the completion of track laying from Port Harcourt to Aba as part of the Nigeria Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway project.
John Zhao, the chief representative and executive director of CCECC, shared this news today on his social media handle, @JohnCCECC. He posted, “New Year, new progress! The track laying from Port Harcourt to Aba on the Nigeria Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway project has been completed by #CCECC.”
According to a report by BusinessDayNG, Zhao stated that the completed track work by CCECC is part of the renovation of the original Eastern Railway.
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation began the construction of the 2044.1km Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway project in April 2022.
The Eastern Railway, originally built between 1913 and 1916 after the discovery of coal at Udi in Enugu State, was extended to Kaduna via Kafanchan in 1927, linking the Eastern Railway to the Lagos–Kano Railway. It reached its northeastern terminus of Maiduguri between 1958 and 1964.
After years of abandonment and vandalism, the eastern line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri was restored in 2009 for $427 million by Lingo Nigeria, Eser West Africa, and the China Gezhouba Group.
In response to the news, Chukwunedum Ekwenibe @MiriEnwe1lo, argued that the economic potential of this route warrants a standard gauge. He explained that the standard gauge, measuring 1435 mm or 4 feet 8.5 inches, is the most commonly used and efficient rail gauge worldwide for both passenger and freight transportation, promoting interoperability and seamless connectivity between rail networks.
Another Nigerian, known as Administrator @Phranknigel, expressed his excitement over the progress. He commented, “Incredible news! The completion of track laying from Port Harcourt to Aba is a significant milestone in the Nigeria Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway project. What a great start to the New Year!”
However, Tonami Playman @TonamiPlayman criticized the project as another wasteful rail initiative in Nigeria. He questioned the logic behind refurbishing the narrow-gauge corridor between PHC & Aba, which would need to be replaced once Nigeria upgrades its rail system.
