Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration For Kaduna-Kano Rail Line

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is targeting December 3, 2026, for the inauguration of the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway, as his administration intensifies efforts to complete major rail 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 has attained 70 per cent completion.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake.

According to the council, 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, improving transportation links across major commercial centres in the North.

The statement said the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project had progressed from barely five per cent completion when Tinubu assumed office in 2023 to its current 70 per cent level.

Similarly, the Kaduna-Kano project, which was less than 30 per cent complete at the beginning of the administration, has now reached approximately 90 per cent completion.

The 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 from the President.

The inspection team expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.

The delegation also undertook a train test-run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.

The council 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 section of the railway corridor.

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 were scheduled for inauguration on December 3.

When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to improve passenger transportation, facilitate 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 council said the projects reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure and improving connectivity across the country.