Politics
Group Counters Pete Edochie, Says Amaechi Didn’t ‘Cut Off’ South-East from Nigeria’s Rail Network
CRA27 Advocacy Network has disputed claims by veteran actor Pete Edochie that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi “cut off” the south-east from the national railway system.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ifeanyi Obasi, representative of the advocacy network, said Edochie’s allegation does not align with the historical record of railway development along the eastern corridor.
Edochie had alleged that Amaechi disconnected the south-east during his tenure as minister. However, CRA27 stated that when Amaechi assumed office in November 2015, the eastern railway corridor from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri had been largely inactive for decades due to neglect.
The group highlighted that large portions of the narrow-gauge track had deteriorated, stations were abandoned, and several sections of the line were overgrown. The federal government’s priority at the time was to rehabilitate existing rail infrastructure rather than expand it.
Obasi noted that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) rehabilitated the Port Harcourt–Aba section of the eastern line, resuming passenger train operations on March 15, 2016, reconnecting two of the most important commercial centres in the South-South and South-East regions.
“The first priority of the Ministry of Transportation at the time was revival, not expansion. Within months of taking office, the NRC returned the Port Harcourt–Aba line to service,” Obasi said.
The advocacy group further revealed that in 2020, the federal government approved about $3 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the broader eastern narrow-gauge corridor, which runs from Port Harcourt through Aba, Umuahia, Enugu, and Makurdi to Maiduguri.
Obasi added that the ministry pursued plans for a new standard-gauge railway along the eastern corridor, linking Port Harcourt with cities including Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Abakaliki, and Awka, before extending northwards. The proposed project, estimated at $11–$12 billion, aims to modernize the eastern rail network and improve both freight and passenger transport.
The group emphasized that public discussions on infrastructure should be based on verifiable facts rather than misinformation.
“Public debate about infrastructure is important and welcome. But such discussions are best served when they are grounded in verifiable facts,” he said.
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