By Peter Omopo
September 5, 2025
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of train services along the Port Harcourt–Aba corridor, citing routine maintenance as the reason for the abrupt halt in operations.
The suspension, which took effect on Friday, will last until September 9, 2025, according to a statement signed by the corporation’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.
“Port Harcourt to Aba train services [are] suspended for routine maintenance [and will] resume regular train services on the 9th of September 2025. We regret all inconveniences,” the statement read.
The development has sparked concern among passengers, many of whom rely heavily on the busy route, especially traders and low-income travelers moving between the South-East and South-South. The line has seen increased patronage in recent months due to high road transport costs and persistent insecurity along highways.
The suspension also comes at a time of heightened public scrutiny of the NRC’s operations. Confidence in the corporation was recently shaken after the derailment of a Kaduna-bound train, which left dozens injured and temporarily halted services on that corridor.
Initially, Opeifa confirmed that seven passengers were injured in the incident, but the NRC later revised the figure to 20, further fueling doubts about transparency and communication within the agency.
The NRC has since pledged full cooperation with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other agencies to investigate the derailment, while denying allegations of poor train maintenance. Refunds were issued to affected passengers.
Despite these assurances, commuters and civil society groups have called for a comprehensive audit of the NRC, raising questions about the safety and reliability of Nigeria’s rail network.
The latest suspension on the Port Harcourt–Aba line adds to a growing list of operational disruptions, with analysts warning that continued setbacks could undermine public trust in rail transport as a safer and cheaper alternative to road travel.
