Njiko Igbo Forum Raises Alarm Over Eastern Railway Project Delay, Seeks Government Action

Njiko Igbo Forum Raises Alarm Over Eastern Railway Project Delay, Seeks Government Action

Njiko Igbo Forum (NIF), a prominent affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has raised serious concerns regarding the protracted delay in the Eastern Corridor railway project that runs from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The Forum has highlighted that the construction, particularly the stretch from Aba to Umuahia, has been moving at a frustratingly slow pace.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Forum’s President, Rev. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha (JP), the group lamented the neglect of the Southeast region in the nationwide railway developments. Obioha pointed out that while other regions in Nigeria have been benefiting from improved rail services, the Southeast, home to the Ndigbo, has been conspicuously excluded. He described this as a blatant indication that the Ndigbo are not considered an integral part of Nigeria.

The Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu, along with Southeast political leaders including Governors, Senators, and House of Representatives members, to urgently investigate the cause of the delay. They emphasized the need for these leaders to ensure that the railway service between Port Harcourt and Enugu is operational by December 2024.

“The work from Aba to Umuahia is progressing at a very slow pace. This is a one-in-a-million development that will significantly impact the lives of our people and improve the ease of doing business, especially since transportation costs are currently very high,” the statement read.

Rev. Obioha also underscored the broader economic hardships facing the people of the Southeast, including the burden of the removal of oil subsidies and increased electricity tariffs. He urged the relevant authorities to prioritize the completion of this critical infrastructure project, which he believes is essential for alleviating some of these burdens.

“Southeast citizens suffer due to a lack of proper representation at all levels of government. While other parts of Nigeria enjoy rail services, the Southeast Ndigbo are excluded. This is a clear indication that we are not considered part of Nigeria, which is both insensitive and unfortunate,” Obioha concluded.