• Sets December 2026 for commissioning

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has disclosed that the 284km Kano-Katsina railway project is at 80 percent completion level.

Speaking after inspecting the project, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engineer Funso Adebiyi, represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Engr. Habibat Buhari, said the project remains fully on course despite some setbacks.

She explained that the rainy season has slowed down construction activities slightly, but stressed that significant work had been accomplished.

The director stated that the current level of physical progress is around 80 percent, noting that materials required for tracklaying had been stockpiled at the project camp.

“We have done a lot of work and the project has reached a stage where major construction activities could be accelerated,” he said.

Buhari identified insecurity in some sections of the corridor and disputes over land and canal areas as the two major issues affecting the pace of construction.

“These will only cause delays, not stop the project. We have had similar cases in the past and they have been attended to,” she said.

She also disclosed that the government was intensifying engagement with affected communities, and other stakeholders to resolve the land-related disputes and enable contractors to move into the affected sections.

“Even if we don’t get all of it, at least we will get the ones to commission by December. We are targeting the commissioning of the project by December, God’s willing, and there is no going back. So we are on course,” she stated.

Also speaking after the inspection,  the representative of the ministry of finance,  the Director, office of the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Muhammadu Kamal said government releases were being made as and when due and the federal government has released it 15 percent counterpart funding.

He said the level of work already completed demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations under the project agreement.

Kamal explained that the project was being financed through a combination of loan facilities and counterpart funding, with the federal government responsible for 15 percent of the project financing while 85 percent was covered by the financing facility.

In his part, the Senior  Country  Officer and representative of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Siya Biniza disclosed that the bank had invested about $250 million in the project.

Biniza described the railway as a strategic infrastructure investment with significant potential economic benefits for northern Nigeria and the wider region.

ALSO READ: Atiku: Returning to fuel subsidy will reverse Nigeria’s economic gains — Minister

He said the inspection demonstrated that substantial financial resources had already been committed to the project.

Meanwhile, the contractor, Mota-Engil Nigeria, also reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Kano-Katsina section by December 2026.

Representing the company and speaking in his capacity as chief financial officer, Vladislav Bystrenko said the first phase of the project, covering the Kano-Katsina corridor, was expected to be completed by December.

He disclosed that the extension from Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic was expected to be completed by the end of 2027.