The Federal Government has announced that the 284-kilometre Kano-Katsina railway project is expected to be completed and commissioned by December 2026.
It also disclosed that construction work on the project has reached 80 per cent completion.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, made this known during a joint inspection of the railway project involving officials from the Ministries of Transportation and Finance, representatives of lending institutions, and the contractor handling the project.
Engr. Funsho, represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Engr. Habibat Buhari, said the project would be commissioned by the end of the year despite challenges posed by insecurity, land disputes, and the seasonal slowdown in construction activities.
He stated that the rainy season had stalled construction activities, adding that significant work had already been accomplished.
He also hinted that materials required for track laying had already been stockpiled at the project camp.
The Permanent Secretary identified insecurity in some sections of the corridor and disputes over land and canal areas as the major issues affecting the pace of construction.
He explained that security concerns had disrupted day-to-day activities in some areas, while some communities were yet to accept provisions relating to the Land Use Act.
Adebiyi, however, assured that the challenges would only delay the project temporarily and would not stop its completion.
He 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.
“These will only cause delays, not stop the project. We have had similar cases in the past, and they have been attended to.”
He expressed confidence that the December commissioning target would be achieved.
“Our target is to commission the project by December, and with the pace of work, there is no going back, by the grace of God. So, we are on course.”
The Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Finance, Muhammadu Kamal, said the federal government has released its 15 per cent counterpart funding.
He said the pace of work demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations under the project agreement.
He explained that the project was financed through a combination of loan facilities and counterpart funding, with the federal government responsible for 15 per cent of the project financing, while the financing facility covered 85 per cent.
The Senior Country Officer and representative of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Siya Biniza, disclosed that the bank has invested about $250 million in the project.
Biniza described the project as a strategic infrastructure investment with economic benefits for northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
The project contractor, Mota-Engil Nigeria, reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Kano-Katsina rail section by December 2026.
The 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 the Republic of Niger would be completed by the end of 2027.
