FG targets December completion of Kaduna-Kano rail line

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that the Kaduna-Kano railway line will be completed and operational by December. This is part of the government's efforts to revive the country's rail transportation system and reduce the heavy burden on the nation's roads, which currently bear the brunt of 98% of Nigerians' travel needs.

Permanent Secretary Funsho Adebiyi of the Ministry of Transportation explained during the 19th National Council on Transportation that heavy reliance on roads has led to excessive traffic and overloading on the road infrastructure. He noted that even air travelers still rely on roads to access airports, further increasing the pressure on the road network.

To alleviate this pressure, the government is shifting some of the transportation load to rail, particularly for freight transportation. Several railway routes, including Port Harcourt-Aba, Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe, are already operational. The Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route is nearing completion and will be ready for operation by December.

Adebiyi also mentioned that work is progressing on the Kano-Daura-Katsina route, with completion expected by December. Additionally, the Katsina-Jibia-Maradi route is anticipated to be ready by the same time next year, while the Kano-Dustse railway project will also be completed around the same period.

Rail freight services are already contributing to a reduction in the number of heavy-duty vehicles on major highways. For instance, container transport from Apapa Port to the Ibadan dry port by rail has removed dozens of trailers from the Lagos-Ibadan highway, reducing accidents and decongesting the road network.

The development of rail freight services is expected to help prolong the lifespan of roads, reduce accidents, and improve safety. By allowing containers to be moved closer to their destinations by rail, the distance covered by trucks will be significantly reduced, leading to less wear and tear on the road pavement.

The railway projects have also created thousands of employment opportunities, with about 4,000 staff recruited for the Kano-Maradi route and over 5,000 for the Kaduna-Kano project. This demonstrates the potential economic benefits and job creation opportunities that rail development can bring to the nation.