By Stella Odueme
President Bola Tinubu has intensified efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
The Kaduna-Zaria-Kano rail project, covering 203 kilometres, has reached about 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project is now 70 per cent completed.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, on Monday.
According to the statement, the two projects had recorded significant progress under the Tinubu administration, noting that the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent completed when the President assumed office in 2023, while the Kaduna-Kano project was below 30 per cent.
It said the projects reflected the administration's commitment to expanding railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods.
The statement explained that the Kaduna-Kano railway, an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line, would provide a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.
It added that a Federal Government inspection team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, recently assessed the projects on the directive of the President.
The team reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
The inspection also featured a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
Alake said Tinubu had directed that outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis be resolved immediately to facilitate the completion of the railway corridor from Abuja to Kano.
He stated that the 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 were scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
According to the statement, the Kaduna-Kano railway, when operational, would ease passenger transportation, boost commercial activities and provide an alternative to road travel along one of Northern Nigeria's busiest commercial corridors.
Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The statement reaffirmed the administration's commitment to delivering ongoing infrastructure projects across the country as scheduled.