The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has said that President Bola Tinubu will inaugurate the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway project on December 3, 2026, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to complete major rail projects across Northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Sunday, the APC PCC spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, disclosed that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project had reached 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail project had attained 70 per cent completion.
The council said the projects were below 30 per cent and five per cent completion, respectively, when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, describing their progress as evidence of the administration’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.
The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is accelerating the completion 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, one of the administration’s legacy projects, has reached approximately 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway project has attained 70 per cent completion.
“When President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the Kano–Katsina–Maradi rail project was barely five per cent complete, while the Kaduna–Kano project was less than 30 per cent complete.
“The projects demonstrate the administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods across the country and beyond.”
The APC PCC said the Kaduna-Kano railway would extend the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line, creating a continuous rail link between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano and improving connectivity among major commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
It stated, “The two rail projects were recently inspected, on the directive of President Tinubu, by a Federal Government team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction work, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
“The inspection included a train test-run journey from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano, allowing officials to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
“The President has also directed that all outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis be resolved immediately so that the railway corridor from Abuja to Kano can be completed.
“The completed 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section out of the entire 205-kilometre stretch of the Kaduna-Kano rail project and the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project will be inaugurated by December 3, 2026.”
APC PCC explained that the Kaduna–Kano railway project is expected to boost passenger transportation, enhance commercial activities and provide an alternative to road travel along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest economic corridors when operational.
The council also said the Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway, which is 70 per cent complete, would strengthen cross-border trade and transportation between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
It added that the Tinubu administration remained committed to completing ongoing infrastructure projects across the country as scheduled.
Infrastructure development has remained a key component of President Tinubu’s economic agenda and is expected to continue featuring prominently in the APC’s campaign for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
With the President seeking a second term, the ruling party has continued to showcase ongoing and completed projects across the country as evidence of its commitment to economic growth, improved transportation and regional connectivity.
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