Tinubu Fast-Tracks Northern Rail Projects as Kaduna-Kano Line Nears Completion, Set for December 3 Inauguration

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stepped up efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
The development marks a major milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to expand the country’s railway infrastructure, improve regional connectivity and boost commercial activities across the northern region.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Dele Alake, Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project has attained approximately 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project has reached 70 per cent completion.
The statement noted that the progress recorded on both projects represents a significant improvement from their respective levels of completion when Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
It disclosed that the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent completed at the time, while the Kaduna-Kano railway had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.
The Kaduna-Kano railway, an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway, is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking some of Northern Nigeria’s major commercial and population centres.
The two projects were recently inspected on the directive of President Tinubu by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.
The inspection team reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction work, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.

The two projects were recently inspected on the directive of President Tinubu by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.
The inspection team reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction work, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
As part of the assessment, officials undertook a train test-run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to evaluate the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
The statement further revealed that President Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of all outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the remaining railway corridor linking Abuja to Kano.

It added that the completed 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway and the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project are scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide a major alternative to road transportation along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest commercial routes, while facilitating the movement of passengers, goods and services.
Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic, opening up new opportunities for economic cooperation and regional commerce.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the progress on the projects reflected the Tinubu administration’s determination to expand critical infrastructure across the country.
It assured that ongoing infrastructure projects in different parts of Nigeria would be delivered according to schedule in line with the President’s development agenda.