Port Harcourt–Aba Railway Service to Resume Tuesday After Suspension, NRC Assures Commuters
September 8, 2025
ENUGU, South-East Nigeria: The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that normal train operations on the Port Harcourt–Aba railway corridor will officially resume on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, restoring a key route for passengers and traders in the South-East.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Dr. Onyedikachi Onovo, District Public Relations Officer of the NRC Eastern District, on behalf of the management of the corporation.
The Port Harcourt to Aba train service had been temporarily suspended last week following a mechanical breakdown, sparking concerns among frequent commuters who rely on the route for safe and affordable transportation.
It would be recalled that NRC’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, had on September 5 announced that the service was halted to allow for routine maintenance and safety checks as part of the corporation’s rail revitalisation programme.
Onovo explained that the development drew wide public attention after a video circulated on social media showing passengers of the Port Harcourt–Aba railway trekking long distances and even crossing a stream in search of alternative means of transport.
According to him, “this followed the breakdown of the train at Imo River on Wednesday, September 3, at about 16:22 hrs, which created discomfort and forced many commuters to seek other means to reach their destinations.”
The NRC spokesperson said the locomotive, which was heading to Port Harcourt from Aba, suddenly developed an unusual fault and stopped moving despite swift efforts by engineers on site.
Onovo further clarified that “in spite of the best efforts of NRC’s engineers to revive the locomotive, the fault persisted, adding that consequently, an alternative engine, Loco 2306, was quickly deployed to rescue the stranded train.”
While some passengers opted to complete their journey by road, others were conveyed back safely to their departure stations, the statement noted.
He revealed that the faulty train had since been returned to Port Harcourt, where it is undergoing comprehensive repairs to restore its reliability in line with enhanced quality control standards for rail transportation in South-East Nigeria.
Onovo added: “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 train ride.”
He also commended commuters for their patience, saying: “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 reiterated that under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it is committed to transforming the rail sector by delivering safer, reliable, and customer-friendly Nigeria train services, while sustaining the revival of the Port Harcourt–Aba railway and other strategic routes nationwide. GMTNewsng
