Economy
NRC: Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service Resumes Tuesday
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that normal train operations on the Port Harcourt-Aba corridor will resume on Tuesday following routine maintenance.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Dr. Onyedikachi Onovo, District Public Relations Officer of the Eastern District, on behalf of the NRC management, on Monday in Enugu.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NRC’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, had earlier confirmed that the service was suspended for maintenance on September 5.
Onovo addressed concerns raised in a viral social media video showing passengers trekking long distances and crossing a stream after the train broke down at Imo River on Wednesday, September 3, at about 16:22 hrs.
He explained, “The train, which was on its way to Port Harcourt from Aba, suddenly developed an unusual fault and stopped functioning. Despite the best efforts of NRC’s engineers to revive the locomotive, the fault persisted. Consequently, an alternative engine, Loco 2306, was quickly deployed to rescue the stranded train. While some passengers chose to take alternative routes to their destinations, others were conveyed back safely.”
Onovo added that the train has since been returned to Port Harcourt, where it is undergoing thorough repairs to ensure readiness for service in line with enhanced quality control.
He said, “All passengers affected by this disruption are advised to visit our stations in Port Harcourt or Aba with evidence of payment for a possible refund or replacement of the train ride. We appreciate the concerns raised by the public and deeply value the patience and understanding shown by our passengers during this period. The NRC management remained committed to transforming the corporation under the Renewed Hope Agenda and our rail revitalisation programme, ensuring safer, reliable, and customer-friendly rail services across the country.”
