Senator Victor Umeh, a prominent voice from the South-East in the National Assembly, has expressed deep concern over the continued neglect of the Eastern Rail Line by successive federal administrations.
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The Labour Party chieftain, who represents Anambra Central District, described the abandoned rail line as a critical trade enabler and game-changer for the haulage sector, capable of reducing costs and mitigating risks associated with road transportation, such as tanker explosions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme, Umeh lamented that while the Eastern Rail Line remains excluded from the federal government’s railway modernization programme, politically motivated projects like the Kano-Niger Republic railway are being prioritized.
The Eastern Rail Line, which runs from Port Harcourt through Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Kafanchan, Jos, and Bauchi to Maiduguri, is the oldest rail line in Nigeria, built during the colonial era. Despite its strategic importance as a vital economic corridor linking Northern and Southern Nigeria, the federal government has consistently excluded it from its modernization plans.
Umeh highlighted the rail line’s historical significance, noting that it once facilitated the movement of goods such as cattle from the North to the South and petroleum products from Port Harcourt to the North. “When the rail line was functional, it saved costs and reduced pressure on our roads. Today, the neglect of this critical infrastructure has led to increased road accidents, including tanker explosions,” he said.
The senator revealed that he had moved a motion in 2018, during his tenure in the 8th Senate, urging the federal government to include the Eastern Rail Line in its railway modernization programme. However, his efforts have yet to yield results.
“The federal government has modernized the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Kano, and Itakpe-Warri rail lines, and is currently constructing the Kano-Maradi line to Niger Republic. Yet, the Eastern Rail Line, which serves as a crucial link between the North and South, remains abandoned. This is unacceptable,” Umeh stated.
Umeh also addressed the recent establishment of the South-East Development Commission, describing it as a significant step toward addressing the region’s infrastructural deficits. He noted that the commission, which has been allocated ₦354 billion in the 2025 budget, is expected to drive development projects across the five states in the South-East.
“The South-East Development Commission is a response to decades of marginalization. Our people have high expectations, and we will ensure that the funds are used judiciously to tackle the region’s challenges,” he said.
However, Umeh emphasized that the commission alone cannot address all the issues facing the South-East. He called on the federal government to take proactive steps to address the region’s infrastructural needs, including the modernization of the Eastern Rail Line.
The senator also criticized the politicization of development projects, citing the exclusion of the Eastern Rail Line as an example of the South-East’s marginalization. He argued that the federal government’s focus on projects like the Kano-Niger Republic railway, while neglecting critical infrastructure in the South-East, reflects a lack of equity in national development.
“The Eastern Rail Line is not just a South-East project; it is a national asset that benefits the entire country. Its neglect is a disservice to Nigerians and a missed opportunity to boost economic growth,” Umeh said.
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