The tenth Senate has called upon the Federal Government to upgrade the Eastern Rail Line, extending from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, by transitioning it from a narrow gauge to a standard gauge.
This call came after Senator Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) presented a motion on the Senate floor, which garnered support from 31 other senators.
During the motion, Senator Umeh emphasized that the Eastern Rail Line holds the distinction of being the longest in the country, traversing four zones—South-South, South-East, North-Central, and North-East. The route spans Port Harcourt, Enugu, Markurdi, Jos, Bauchi, and Maiduguri, making it not only the lengthiest but also one of the oldest rail lines in Nigeria.
Senator Umeh highlighted the importance of upgrading the Eastern Rail Line to a standard gauge, emphasizing that such a transformation would alleviate road congestion and prevent the continuous deterioration of infrastructure. He drew attention to the current state of neglect and decay of the narrow gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, describing it as vandalized, abandoned, and overgrown with weeds and trees.
In his critique, Senator Umeh pointed out the failure of the project, attributing it to the abandonment of responsibilities by Chinese contractors who were expected to contribute 85 per cent of the required funding.
He urged the Federal Government to take immediate action in constructing a standard gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a co-sponsor of the motion, drew attention to the historical negligence of the Eastern Rail Line by previous administrations. He expressed optimism that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would prioritize upgrading the line to a standard gauge.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the patriotic nature of the motion and urged the Federal Government to give it the attention it deserves.
