Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has called on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to expedite work on the long-stalled Eastern rail corridor, particularly the Umuahia–Enugu segment. The appeal was made during a high-level meeting in Umuahia with the new NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.
The governor expressed concern over the halted construction, which was initially slated for completion in the first quarter of 2024. He described the Eastern rail line as a vital artery for economic revival across the Southeast and emphasized the need to match the development pace seen in other regions.
“The speed with which other parts of the corridor were executed is different from what we see here,” Otti noted. “But I am confident that with new leadership at the NRC, the trajectory will shift positively.”
Highlighting the strategic vision behind Abia’s transport reforms, Governor Otti referenced the UK’s Paddington station—a 24/7 multimodal hub combining rail and road networks—as the inspiration behind the state’s upcoming Umuahia Railway and Bus Terminal.
“We’re not looking to replicate models just for aesthetics. We want economic energy. We want a transport system that never sleeps,” he said.
The governor also addressed concerns about the security of NRC assets in Aba, pledging to investigate incidents and provide logistical support to secure federal infrastructure in the state.
“Our administration doesn’t draw a line between federal and state infrastructure. We’re ready to partner with any entity that brings development to Abia,” he affirmed.
Earlier, NRC boss Dr. Opeifa explained that the visit was part of renewed efforts to revive the Eastern corridor and integrate major cities in the Southeast into Nigeria’s national rail network.
“Our mission is to add real economic value—by reducing inflationary pressure, cutting the cost of goods movement, and stabilizing the macroeconomic environment,” Opeifa said.
He reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to revitalizing the Aba–Umuahia line and positioning rail transport as a reliable driver of economic recovery.
The strategic meeting also featured a presentation by Kingsley Agomoh, General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), on the new rail-bus interchange under construction.
Also present were key members of the Abia State executive team, including Commissioner for Transport Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, Special Adviser on Transport Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe, and Chief Strategy Officer to the Governor, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu.
Governor Otti reaffirmed that a modern, efficient transport network remains central to his administration’s broader economic development blueprint.
