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President Bola Tinubu has pledged that his administration will complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt in the oil-rich Niger Delta to Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria.
Tinubu gave the cheering news during an interactive session with South East leaders during his official visit to Enugu State on Saturday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu: Eastern Rail line will be completed, and Anambra Basin will receive development support’, on Saturday.
The Eastern Rail Line project aims to reconstruct and expand the existing narrow-gauge railway connecting Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.
It passes through the eastern capitals of Umuahia, Owerri, Awka, Enugu, and Abakaliki.
The project, initiated on March 9, 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, involves renovating the current 1,443-kilometer line and adding new branch lines to Owerri and Damaturu, extending the total length to 2,044 kilometers.
The Nigerian government had contracted the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to execute the project, with an estimated cost of $3.02bn.
FG says the line will enhance transportation infrastructure, thereby stimulating economic activities along the corridor.
The project suffered several challenges, including funding delays and security concerns in certain areas.
On Saturday, the President also pledged to support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.
Earlier at a meeting, President Tinubu praised Governor Peter Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government.
He pledged that the federal government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
On his part, Governor Peter Mbah described President Tinubu as a true federalist.
He lauded the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission and liberalising the electricity sector through the Electricity Act (Amendment).
Mbah congratulated the President on being named ThisDay Man of the Year and acknowledged his efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s growth and economic resilience
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