The Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway will be inaugurated on 3 December. This is part of the Federal Government's push to finish key railway projects in Northern Nigeria, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
The council reported that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway is about 90 percent complete. The 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project is also progressing, reaching 70 percent completion.
In a statement on Sunday, Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said these projects are part of the infrastructure plans being fast-tracked by President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The statement noted that the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway was only five percent finished when Mr Tinubu took office in 2023. The Kaduna-Kano project was less than 30 percent complete at that time.
The council explained that the Kaduna-Kano railway will connect the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line. This will link Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano directly.
It will also enhance transport links across major business areas in Northern Nigeria. This will make passenger travel easier and help move goods more efficiently.
The statement mentioned that a Federal Government inspection team, led by Funso Adebiyi, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, checked the two projects recently. This was done on the president’s orders.
Mr Adebiyi reportedly showed satisfaction with the construction work, especially the railway alignment, drainage systems, embankment protection, stone pitching, and soil stabilization.
The inspection also involved a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano. This was to check the completed track and passenger comfort, according to the council.
Mr Tinubu has instructed that any outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues in Kaduna city be sorted out quickly. This is to help finish the railway corridor from Abuja to Kano.
The statement added that the 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway and the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi railway will also be inaugurated on 3 December.
Once operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway will provide an alternative to road travel along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest trade routes.
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to boost transportation and trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
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