FG targets December completion of Kaduna-Kano rail line

The Federal Government has announced that the Kaduna-Kano railway line will be completed and operational by December 2022. This follows a meeting of the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja, where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, highlighted the government's commitment to reviving Nigeria's rail transportation system.

Adebiyi noted that 98% of Nigerians currently rely on road transportation, which has placed immense strain on the country's road infrastructure. The government aims to alleviate this pressure by expanding the railway network, particularly for freight transportation. Several railway routes have already been completed and are operational, including Port Harcourt-Aba, Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe.

The Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route is nearing completion and is expected to be operational by December 2022, along with the Kano-Daura-Katsina route and Katsina-Jibia-Maradi route. Adebiyi emphasized that rail development is gaining momentum in Nigeria, with several projects already underway. The government believes that expanding rail freight services will help reduce the number of heavy-duty vehicles on major highways, decrease accident rates, and improve the lifespan of roads.

The initiative is also creating employment opportunities, with thousands of young Nigerians employed on various railway projects.