Tinubu Approves $3 Billion Eastern Rail Line Reconstruction in Historic Boost for South-East Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a transformative $3 billion investment for the full reconstruction and modernization of Nigeria’s Eastern Rail Line—marking the largest infrastructure commitment to the South-East and North-East in the country’s history.

Announced by officials from the Federal Ministry of Transportation on July 23, the massive rail project will span over 1,400 kilometers, connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri through key economic cities including Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Jos, Bauchi, and Gombe. Long considered Nigeria’s most neglected railway corridor, the Eastern Line has suffered decades of underfunding despite its vital role in connecting over 60 million people across two geo-political zones.

This is the first time any federal government has earmarked over $1 billion for a single South-East-based transport project. The move is already being hailed as a bold attempt to redress historical infrastructural disparities.

The Eastern Narrow-Gauge Railway will be upgraded to a modern standard-gauge line, according to Transport Minister Senator Saidu Alkali. Preliminary work—including right-of-way clearance and environmental impact assessments—has already commenced. Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has been shortlisted to bid for the job, with actual construction expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.

More than 150,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase, with major implications for regional employment, logistics, and trade. The line is poised to unlock access to agricultural belts and industrial hubs that have remained isolated due to poor transport infrastructure.

Business communities in Aba, Enugu, and Owerri reacted to the news with cautious optimism. Many stakeholders acknowledged the significance of the announcement but stressed the need for timely execution and transparency.

“This project, if delivered, will reduce transportation costs, open up new markets, and breathe life back into our factories and warehouses,” said Ifeanyi Nwosu, a trader in Ariaria Market, Aba.
Analysts see the rail investment as more than just an economic move—it’s political. For years, leaders from the South-East have decried marginalization in federal allocations and infrastructure planning. Tinubu’s approval of this project, according to experts, may be aimed at improving federal relations with the region and reshaping perceptions ahead of future elections.

With other landmark rail projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan corridor and the Kano–Kaduna–Abuja line either completed or underway, this Eastern Line upgrade signals a broader federal shift toward nationwide rail connectivity.

“This isn’t just steel on tracks,” said public policy expert Ngozi Okereke. “It’s a statement of intent—about unity, about inclusion, and about economic justice.”

If completed as planned, the Eastern Rail Line could become a game-changer in how goods and people move across Nigeria, restoring long-lost confidence in the nation’s ability to deliver on major promises.