Kaduna-Kano rail project scheduled for December 3 inauguration

The Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway is scheduled for inauguration on December 3, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, according to the APC Presidential Campaign Council. In a statement released on Sunday, the council announced that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project has reached approximately 90 per cent completion. The 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project has attained 70 per cent completion.

The projects were below 30 per cent and five per cent completion respectively when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023. The ruling party stated that the infrastructure work demonstrates the administration's commitment to expanding railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity, and easing the movement of passengers and goods. The Kaduna-Kano line will extend the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line, creating a continuous rail link between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano.

Inspection and Route Details

A Federal Government team recently inspected the two projects on the directive of President Tinubu. The inspection team was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi. Adebiyi expressed satisfaction with the construction quality, noting the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching, and soil stabilisation. The inspection included a train test-run journey from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.

President Tinubu has directed that all outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis be resolved immediately. This step will allow the railway corridor from Abuja to Kano to be completed. Specifically, the completed 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano project and the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project will be inaugurated on December 3, 2026.

When operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road travel along a busy commercial corridor. Meanwhile, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway will strengthen cross-border trade and transportation between Nigeria and the neighbouring Niger Republic.