The Abia State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to facilitate the construction of an access road across the railway corridor in Umuahia, the state capital.
The proposed road will link Okpara Square and Akanu Ibiam Street, popularly known as Goodshed, to Bende Road, with the project expected to improve connectivity and ease traffic congestion within the state capital.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Governor’s Office in Umuahia.
Speaking during the ceremony, Abia State Governor Alex Otti said the access road forms part of his administration’s broader plan to give Umuahia a facelift and address transportation challenges around the railway corridor.
Otti said the project would also support plans to integrate the railway station with the recently completed Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, creating a transportation hub that would bring different modes of transportation closer together.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu; Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti; General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Kingsley Agomuo; and other relevant officials to work together to ensure the project is delivered promptly.
The governor also appealed to the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, to consider increasing the number of trains operating on the Port Harcourt-Aba route.
Otti said the state was interested in developing an integrated transportation system involving road and rail services, adding that Abia was also working with other governors in the South-East on broader regional transportation plans.
He noted that the state had recently increased the number of electric buses operating across Abia to 40, with another 30 buses expected to be added.
According to the governor, integrating the railway system with the state’s bus network would strengthen public transportation and improve mobility for residents.
Otti also raised the issue of an existing police station located within the railway corridor in Umuahia.
He directed the Umuahia Capital Development Authority to relocate the station temporarily within the facility and prepare an architectural design for a new railway station incorporating a police station. The proposed design is to be forwarded to the NRC for consideration.
Speaking earlier, the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the corporation approved the project after the Abia State Government fulfilled the conditions required for construction within the railway corridor.
Opeifa explained that the MoU would allow the state government to construct the access road linking Okpara Square through Goodshed and Akanu Ibiam Road to Bende Road.
He said the approval was granted as part of the NRC’s efforts to support initiatives aimed at improving transportation infrastructure and mobility.
The NRC boss commended the Abia Government for following due process in seeking approval for the project and described the state administration as responsive and responsible.
Opeifa also praised Governor Otti’s commitment to infrastructure development and collaboration with the Federal Government irrespective of political differences.
He cited the recently completed Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal as an example of the state’s investment in transportation infrastructure.
The NRC managing director further requested that the existing police station within the railway corridor be relocated to a more suitable location and that the architectural design for the proposed new railway station be shared with the corporation.
He expressed confidence that the partnership between the state government and the NRC would strengthen transportation infrastructure, improve movement within Umuahia and contribute to economic growth in Abia.
The proposed access road is expected to provide an additional route through a busy part of Umuahia and reduce pressure on existing roads. Its connection to Bende Road could also improve access between key parts of the state capital.
The MoU represents another step in the Abia State Government’s efforts to integrate road and rail transportation as part of its broader urban development plans.
With the planned access road, railway station and bus terminal expected to function as interconnected components of a transportation hub, the state government hopes to improve public transportation and create a more efficient movement network within Umuahia.
The project will also require continued coordination between the Abia State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation because the proposed road passes through a railway corridor under the corporation’s control.
The agreement therefore provides the legal and administrative framework for the state to proceed with the planned road construction while ensuring that the railway infrastructure and operations are taken into consideration.
Both parties expressed optimism that the collaboration would improve transportation infrastructure and support economic activity in Umuahia.
The development comes as the Otti administration continues to prioritise road construction, public transportation and urban infrastructure as part of its broader development agenda for Abia State.
