The Federal Government has scheduled December 3, 2026, for the inauguration of the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway, as the Bola Tinubu administration intensifies efforts to complete major railway projects across Northern Nigeria.
The 203-kilometre Kaduna–Zaria–Kano railway project has reached approximately 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway project is now 70 per cent complete.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, the projects have recorded significant progress since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The statement noted that the Kano–Katsina–Maradi project was barely five per cent complete when the administration came into power, while the Kaduna–Kano railway had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.
It said 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, improving transportation links across some of Northern Nigeria’s major commercial centres.
The two projects were recently inspected by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, following a directive by the President.
During the inspection, Adebiyi reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
The delegation also conducted a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
Alake disclosed that the President had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the remaining railway corridor between Abuja and Kano.
He added that the completed 190-kilometre Jaji–Kano section of the Kaduna–Kano project, alongside the 250-kilometre Dawanu–Kano–Kazaure–Daura–Katsina section of the Kano–Maradi railway, would be inaugurated on December 3.
When fully operational, the Kaduna–Kano railway is expected to improve passenger movement, stimulate commercial activities and provide an alternative to road transportation along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest economic corridors.
Similarly, the Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and facilitate trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the projects reflected Tinubu’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure and ensuring the delivery of ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.
Alake reiterated that all ongoing infrastructure projects under the administration’s agenda would be completed as scheduled.