The APC Campaign Council has announced that the Kaduna-Kano standard gauge railway line is scheduled for inauguration on 3 December.
The announcement, which details the progress of critical infrastructure projects, comes as the administration seeks to demonstrate the completion of key transport corridors in Northern Nigeria. According to the council, the project has seen an increase in completion rates since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
The council noted that the Kaduna-Kano rail project was less than 30 per cent complete at the time of the presidential handover. Furthermore, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project was barely five per cent complete during the same period.
Impact on regional trade and transport
The completion and subsequent commissioning of the Kaduna-Kano line are expected to change the movement of goods and passengers between two of Nigeria’s most important commercial hubs. The rail corridor provides an alternative to road transport, which has frequently been affected by security concerns and high logistics costs for traders.
The standard gauge technology used in this project is designed to allow for higher speeds and increased load capacities compared to the previous narrow-gauge tracks. This is expected to support agricultural trade by allowing producers in the northern states to transport produce to urban markets in Kano and Kaduna more efficiently.
The rail line also serves as a link in the broader regional integration efforts within West Africa, particularly as the Kano-Katsina-Maradi section connects Nigeria to the Maradi region in Niger Republic. The completion of these segments is viewed by the government as a priority to enhance cross-border trade and economic cooperation.
While the inauguration date has been set, the full operational schedule for commercial passenger and freight services is expected to be released by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) following the official ceremony. The federal government has yet to provide specific details regarding the logistics or the official guest list for the December event.
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