… Says Kaduna/ Kano Line Will be Commissioned December 2026
The Transportation Minister Senator Said Alkali has listed some of the.achievements of the Ministry under his leadership including taking the Kano- Maradi rail line construction from 5per cent completion under the Buhari administration to 60percent, a claim which was corroborated by the Vice- President Kashim Shettima in his own separate speech.
The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2nd International Railway Conference holding at the African Continental Hotel in Abuja today and tomorrow.
The President represented by the Vice- President declared the conference open where he commended the efforts of the Minister and the Ministry.
” I have considered it most expedient to highlight few key achievements by the Ministry under this Administration to expand the scope of discussions during technical sections and attract useful output to enhance the transport sector.
He stated that his administration facilitated accelerated execution of the 203km Kaduna-Kano on going rail modernization project from 15% at the inception of the Administration to 53% and the 387 km Kano – Maradi with extension to Dutse from 5% to 60%.
“While the Kaduna – Kano project will be ready for completion and commissioning by December 2026, the Kano – Maradi project will reach Katsina by December this year and be ready for completion and commissioning by March 2027;
He also cited the successful completion of the rehabilitation of Lagos – Kano Old Narrow Gauge for freight of goods from the seaports to connect to Dala Inland Dry Port to put it to use; recent Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of one modern One-Bus Terminal in each geopolitical zone of the Country to be situated at Abeokuta (South West), Onitsha (South East), Warri, (South-South), Lokoja (North Central), Kano (North West) and Gombe (North East). This development will enhance efficiency, public safety and welfare of passengers;
the successful facilitation of takeoff of the Federal University of Transportation Daura whose manpower status at the inception of the Administration has only a Vice Chancellor;
Supported the operationalisation of the laudable Presidential initiative on compressed Natural Gas through establishment of CNG Conversion Centres and training of over 6,000 transport professionals in 2024 alone by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria to administer transport initiatives, laws and policies;
Others include the facilitation of provision of Presidential transport festive relief programme across the county during Yuletide which transported over I million passengers free by rail and road in 2023 and 2024 respectively to enhance security and welfare of Nigerians; recent introduction of dual-fuel locomotive technology flagged off on Abuja – Kaduna rail corridor to enhance operational cost effectiveness; Federal Government‘s financial support for the establishment of light rail by states beginning with Kaduna, Kano and Ogun to enhance public transportation and economic productivity in the affected states and the country in general;
attraction of foreign investors for the construction of high speed rail from Abuja – Lagos, Abuja – Kano and Abuja – Port Harcourt to boost nation’s infrastructural development and revenue generation profile. At the moment, the Outline Business Case was approved by Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The Minister also added that the Ministry facilitated sourcing funds from China Development Bank and the release of the Federal Government’s counterpart funds for the Kaduna-Kano rail modernization project as well as the recent approval of the National Land Transport Policy by the Federal Executive Council after decades of struggle since 1993. According to him, the policy will lay the foundation for future development of land transportation in Nigeria.