The Enugu State Government has unveiled plans to develop a 135.5-kilometre standard gauge railway that will link major cities in the South-East to the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Obi Ozor, disclosed this during an interview on Enugu Kwenu, a programme aired on Afia TV on Friday. He highlighted the state’s ongoing transportation initiatives and emphasised how the new railway project will play a vital role in boosting economic activity across the region.
Ozor confirmed that a feasibility study has already been conducted. He said the state is collaborating with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Chinese partners on the project, with talks underway to attract investment.
“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, and a connection to Ebonyi through the Amechi Idodo axis. And of course, connections to Umuahia, Abia, and Owerri through the line that passes through Nkanu West to Isiagu and goes all the way to Onne Port,” he said.
He stressed that the railway is a key part of the state’s broader vision to transform Enugu into a commercial and export powerhouse.
“As part of turning Enugu State into a hub, rail is a critical component to enable the movement of agro-commodities from their sources all the way to the port for export and earning of foreign exchange,” Ozor explained.
He also noted that the region’s abundant natural resources, such as coal, could be better harnessed with improved transport infrastructure.
“We have a lot of wealth locked beneath our soil, such as coal. We need to exploit them to generate significant revenue, and rail is critical to achieving this,” he said.
Designed to serve both passenger and cargo traffic, the proposed railway is expected to ease the transportation of goods within the South-East and reduce over-reliance on Lagos ports. Ozor mentioned that the rail system would also aid in moving goods from neighbouring states like Delta.
As part of the infrastructure upgrade, a market station will be constructed at the Holy Ghost Transport Terminal in Enugu to handle both freight and passenger traffic. Additionally, the government is working on setting up a major inland container port to handle agro-exports for both the South-East and North-East.
While the Federal Government is implementing its own rail expansion from Aba to Enugu over the next two years, Ozor clarified that Enugu’s project is independently planned and financed by the state.
He concluded by saying that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader economic development strategy aimed at making Enugu a regional logistics and export centre.
