The Federal Government says construction of the 284-kilometre Kano-Katsina railway project has reached about 80 per cent completion, with authorities maintaining that the line will be ready for commissioning by December 2026.
The latest update followed a joint inspection of the project involving officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Finance, lending institutions and the project contractor.
Government insists December deadline remains
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, represented during the inspection by the Director of Rail Transport Services, Engr. Habibat Buhari, said the project remained on schedule despite challenges encountered during construction.
She said the rainy season had slowed some construction activities but maintained that substantial progress had already been achieved.
According to the ministry, materials needed for track laying have also been stockpiled at the project site, allowing construction activities to accelerate as conditions improve.
Insecurity and land disputes slow work
Government officials identified insecurity and land-related disputes as two of the major challenges affecting construction along some sections of the railway corridor.
Some communities have reportedly raised concerns over land and canal areas affected by the project, while security challenges have disrupted work in certain locations.
The Federal Government said it is engaging affected communities and other stakeholders to resolve the disputes.
Officials stressed that the challenges could cause delays but would not stop the project from being completed.
FG has provided its 15% counterpart funding
The Federal Ministry of Finance said government funding obligations under the project were being met.
A representative of the ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Kamal, said the Federal Government had released its 15 per cent counterpart contribution, while 85 per cent of the financing comes through the project’s financing facility.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa also disclosed that it had invested approximately $250 million in the railway project.
Mota-Engil promises December delivery
The project’s contractor, Mota-Engil Nigeria, also reaffirmed its commitment to completing the Kano-Katsina section by December 2026.
The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vladislav Bystrenko, said the first phase covering the Kano-Katsina corridor was expected to be completed before the end of the year.
He added that the planned extension from Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Project expected to boost northern Nigeria’s economy
The Kano-Katsina railway is regarded as an important transportation project for northern Nigeria.
Once operational, the railway is expected to improve the movement of passengers and goods between Kano and Katsina while strengthening commercial connections within the region.
The Katsina-Maradi extension could further expand cross-border trade and transportation links between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa described the project as a strategic infrastructure investment with significant economic potential for northern Nigeria and the wider region.
Rolling stock preparation underway
The Federal Government also said efforts were being made to ensure that the required rolling stock is available for the planned December commissioning.
Officials acknowledged that not all equipment may arrive at once but expressed confidence that sufficient rolling stock would be available to begin operations.
The government said there was no change to its December commissioning target.
What happens next?
With physical construction reportedly at 80 per cent, attention will now shift to completing track-laying activities, resolving outstanding land issues, addressing security challenges and preparing the railway’s operational equipment.
If the December deadline is achieved, the Kano-Katsina line will become another major addition to Nigeria’s expanding rail infrastructure.
OnPointGist will continue to monitor the project and provide updates on its completion, commissioning and eventual commencement of passenger and freight services.
