By Palma Ileye
President Bola Ahmed 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 Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, disclosed this during an inspection of the ongoing railway projects, carried out on the directive of the President.
According to a statement by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, 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 70 per cent completed.
The statement noted that when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent completed, while the Kaduna-Kano railway stood at less than 30 per cent.
It said the projects reflect the administration’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods across the country and beyond.
The Kaduna-Kano railway, an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway, is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking major commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
During the recent inspection, the Federal Government delegation 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.
The statement further disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the railway corridor from Abuja to Kano.
It 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 project are expected to be inaugurated on December 3, 2026.
When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to improve passenger transportation, boost commercial activities and provide an alternative to road travel along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest commercial routes.
Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson said the administration remained committed to delivering ongoing infrastructure projects across all parts of the country as scheduled.
