The ongoing 387-kilometre Kano-Maradi railway project is now at 60 per cent completion, the federal government said Monday.
The gigantic project puts Nigeria on the global map as the world’s second-largest high-speed rail network at the completion of the project.
Said Alkali, the minister of Transportation said on Monday that the construction work was extended to Dutse in Jigawa State while the Kaduna-Kano rail line project was at 53 per cent completion.
He disclosed this during the second International Railway Conference on Monday in Abuja where he stated that: “387km Kano-Maradi with extension to Dutse has been advanced from five per cent to 60 per cent”.
“While Kaduna-Kano project will be ready for completion and commissioning by December 2026, Kano-Maradi project will reach Katsina by December this year and be ready for completion and commissioning by March 2027.
“Rehabilitation of Lagos-Kano old narrow gauge for freight of goods from the seaport, connect to Dala Inland Dry Port, will be successfully completed and put to use.
The minister revealed that the development would enhance efficiency, public safety and ensure welfare of passengers.
According to him, the execution of the 203km Kaduna-Kano ongoing rail modernisation project advanced from 15 per cent at the inception of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure to 53 per cent.
Recalling the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recent approval for the construction of one modern Bus Terminal in each geopolitical zone of the Country, the minister said the bus terminals will be situated at Abeokuta (South-West), Onitsha (South-East), Warri, (South-South), Lokoja (North-Central), Kano (North-West) and Gombe (North-East).
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of De-Sadel Consortium, Samuel Uko, commended the federal government for approving highspeed rail projects in the Country.
