The Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway is set to be inaugurated on December 3, 2026, according to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, as the Federal Government pushes to complete major rail projects across Northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the council’s spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, said the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project has reached approximately 90 per cent completion. The 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail project, he added, has attained 70 per cent completion.
The council noted that both projects were at far earlier stages when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, with the Kaduna-Kano line below 30 per cent and the Kano-Katsina-Maradi line at barely five per cent. It described the progress as evidence of the administration’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.
Progress on the Northern Rail Corridor
According to the statement, the Kaduna-Kano railway will extend the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line, creating a continuous rail link between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano. The council said the link would improve connectivity among major commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
The statement also highlighted a recent inspection of the two projects, carried out on the President’s directive by a Federal Government team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi. The team 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 from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano, which allowed officials to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
Land Acquisition and Compensation
The President has 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.
Per the statement, the completed 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the entire 205-kilometre Kaduna-Kano stretch, along with the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project, will be inaugurated by December 3, 2026.
Expected Economic Benefits
The council said the Kaduna-Kano railway 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 once operational.
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway, now 70 per cent complete, is expected to strengthen cross-border trade and transportation between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The council added that the Tinubu administration remains committed to completing ongoing infrastructure projects across the country as scheduled.
Infrastructure and the Political Calendar
Infrastructure development has remained a key component of President Tinubu’s economic agenda and is expected to feature 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.
