Hope for the return of train services on the eastern rail lines was raised on Thursday as the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) announced the completion of rehabilitation works on the Portharcourt –Aba rail line.
Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, who took other management staff of the corporation on an inspection tour to ascertain the progress of work done between Portharcourt and Aba route, assured that railway passengers in the east that sooner than they expected, the sound of train horn would begin to reverberate around the cities in the area.
He stated that the management of the corporation was anxious to resume operations in the axis, adding that the anxiety gave rise to the inspection.
Okhiria, who was accompanied by the Director, Mechanical Services, Jerry Oche; Director of Operations, Akin Oshinowo, Director Civil, Adekunle Ayeni and the Railway District Manager, East, Mohammed M. Ibrahim visited railway operations in Aba, Port-Harcourt, Elelenwa and other strategic locations and bridges along the route.
He said that the main line has been completed from Port-Harcourt to Aba and that what is currently being fixed are the signaling systems for communication, loop and workshop lines on all the stations on the route.
“We are almost ready for commencement of services along this route. Now that the Portharcourt to Aba is almost through, the contractors will proceed to Umuahia, Enugu and up to Maiduguri”, he stated
On what the Corporation was doing to stop vandalism, Okhiria pleaded with Nigerians to see the facilities as their own, even as he noted the challenges posed by fund in assisting the Nigerian Police and the NSCDC Railway Command to function effectively.
Speaking on the rolling stocks for the operations, he said that it was awarded alongside the reconstruction contract, adding that while the Corporation awaits the delivery of the ones awarded, drastic actions were already on top gear to get the coaches, wagons, locomotives and other components ready for the train movement.
He also disclosed that the staff members are being sensitized through trainings and rehearsal and that they were already excited and in high spirit in anticipation of resumption of operations.
He advised anyone any structure obstructing the right of way of the track to remove such in their own interest, saying no encroachment can stop the corporation from running her trains.
Meanwhile, Igbo youth under the aegis of Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL) have alleged shabby delivery in the ongoing reconstruction of the rail line, saying it was unacceptable.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Port Harcourt – Aba Railway line have not been fully completed. Any statement saying it has been completed should be discarded because it is not true.
“The job is being shabbily done by the contractors and we will not accept such shabby job that was not executed according to specification.
“The contractor removed the asphalt along Aba – Owerri road, Uratta road and other roads where the rail line crossed and poured gravels on the roads which make it very difficult for vehicular movements.
“They did not pour sufficient gravels along the railway lines which will affect the movement of train. Some bolts and nuts are not in place along Uratta axis of the railway line”, President General of the association, Goodluck Ibem said in their statement.
He added that the reconstruction of the 63 kilometer eastern rail line was not intended to make life difficult for the people, regretting however, that “People stay in traffic for one to two hours just to pass through a railway crossing.
“We call on the Contractor to immediately get back to work and complete the project and stop making things difficult for the people.”