The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of train operations between Port Harcourt and Aba to allow for routine maintenance works. Services are scheduled to resume on September 9, 2025.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, and posted on the corporation’s official X handle recently.
“Port Harcourt to Aba train services are suspended for routine maintenance. Regular train services will resume on the 9th of September 2025,” the statement read.
Dr. Opeifa assured passengers that the suspension was temporary and apologised for any inconvenience caused, stressing that the maintenance was necessary to sustain safe and efficient operations.
The suspension comes barely two months after the Port Harcourt–Aba train service was relaunched in July 2025, following rehabilitation works on the corridor. The route, which operates Tuesday through Saturday, departs Port Harcourt at 8:00 a.m. and returns from Aba at 3:00 p.m.
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Fares are fixed at ₦1,500 for first class and ₦800 for standard class, making it one of the most affordable and reliable transport links in the region.
The train line serves several strategic stations, including Port Harcourt, Elelenwo, Obuzor, Umugo, and Aba, providing a crucial link for commuters, traders, and businesses across Rivers and Abia States.
It also forms part of the wider Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway project, valued at $3 billion. The project was financed through a 2021 agreement between the Federal Government and a syndicate of Chinese partners, with Nigeria contributing 15% of the funds while the financiers covered the remaining 85%.
The NRC reiterated its commitment to modernising rail infrastructure nationwide, noting that periodic maintenance is vital to ensuring reliable services for passengers.
