President Bola Tinubu has directed the acceleration of major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
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 about 70 per cent complete.
According to the project update, the Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway was barely five per cent complete when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while the Kaduna–Kano project was less than 30 per cent complete.
The projects form part of the administration’s infrastructure programme aimed at expanding Nigeria’s railway network, improving regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods.
The Kaduna–Kano railway, an extension of the existing Abuja–Kaduna standard gauge line, is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking major commercial centres across Northern Nigeria.
The projects were recently inspected by a Federal Government team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr Funso Adebiyi, following a directive from the President.
Adebiyi expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
The inspection also included a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano, allowing officials to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
Tinubu has also directed that outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis be resolved immediately to facilitate the completion of the railway corridor between Abuja and Kano.
The update stated that the completed 190-kilometre Jaji–Kano section, out of the reported 205-kilometre stretch of the Kaduna–Kano project, and the 250-kilometre Dawanu–Kano–Kazaure–Daura–Katsina section of the Kano–Maradi project are scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
When operational, the Kaduna–Kano railway is expected to improve passenger transportation, support commercial activities and provide an alternative to road travel along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest commercial corridors.
The Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway is also expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Federal Government said ongoing infrastructure projects across the country would be delivered according to schedule in line with Tinubu’s development agenda.
