The Enugu State Government has unveiled plans to construct a 135.5-kilometre standard gauge railway line, aimed at enhancing connectivity between major South-East cities and the Onne Port in Rivers State. The ambitious infrastructure project is part of a broader strategy to transform Enugu into a key logistics and export hub within the region.
Dr Obi Ozor, the State Commissioner for Transportation, announced the development during an appearance on the Enugu Kwenu programme broadcast by Afia TV on Friday. He confirmed that the feasibility study for the Enugu rail network and wider South-East corridor has been completed.
According to Dr Ozor, the project involves strategic partnerships with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and several Chinese firms specialising in rail infrastructure. He also disclosed that negotiations are underway with private investors to secure funding for the project.
The proposed rail line will stretch from Enugu through Ugwuoba, linking Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State. It will further traverse parts of Ebonyi via the Amechi Idodo axis and extend to Umuahia and Owerri, passing through Nkanu West and Isiagu, before terminating at the Onne Port.
“As part of turning Enugu State into a hub, rail is a critical part of that to enable the movement of agro commodities from wherever their sources are to all the way to the port for export and earning of foreign exchange.
“We have a lot of wealth locked underneath our soil, such as coal. We need to exploit them to be able to generate a lot of revenue, and rail is critical to it. And that rail is also important to connect all the South Eastern cities because they have some level of affiliation to Enugu,” the commissioner stated.
He added, “The line we are about to build is state-owned. It is a 135.5km standard gauge line that connects Enugu to all major cities in the South East. You are going to see a proper connection to Anambra through Ugwuoba, you are going to see a connection to Ebonyi through the Amechi Idodo axis. And of course, connecting to Umuahia, Abia and Owerri through the line that passes through Nkanu West to Isiagu and going all the way to Onne Port.”
The rail line, he noted, is designed to support both passenger and freight movement, easing the transportation of goods and reducing dependence on the ports in Lagos. He highlighted its potential to facilitate cargo flow from neighbouring states such as Delta, thus alleviating congestion in Lagos.
Dr Ozor underscored the importance of the rail project to Enugu’s broader economic vision, especially in boosting agricultural exports. He said it would create a more efficient means for transporting agro-commodities across the South-East to international export points. He further noted that the initiative would also facilitate the extraction and movement of mineral resources, particularly coal, which has long remained underutilised in the region.
As part of the state’s expansive transport infrastructure upgrade, he revealed plans for a new market station within the Holy Ghost Transport Terminal in Enugu, located between Terminals 1 and 2, which will cater to both passenger and cargo transit.
In addition, Enugu State is planning the development of a large-scale inland container port to handle agro-commodity processing for both the South-East and North-East zones.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s separate plan to extend its railway from Aba to Enugu within the next two years, Dr Ozor clarified that the state’s rail line is a distinct and state-led initiative aligned with Enugu’s economic development agenda.