“Rail Line Projects: A Game-Changer for Nigeria’s Economy”- Senator Alkali … Commends Contractors for improved pace of work

Oru Leonard 

Nigeria is making significant strides in its railway development, with the Kano-Maradi rail line project expected to be a game-changer for the country’s economy. The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, has expressed optimism that the rail transport system will soon surpass the oil sector as Nigeria’s largest revenue source.

The Kano-Maradi railway project, valued at $1.9 billion, is anticipated to generate $1.3 billion in annual income and create employment opportunities for thousands of people . The project involves constructing a standard gauge railway line with an alignment of about 377 kilometers from Kano to Maradi and a branch line from Kano to Dutse.

The Minister made this known Friday while on an inspection of the ongoing Kano-Daura-Maradi rail project alongside members of the Senate Committee on Land Transportation who were also on an oversight visit of the project.

According to the Minister, a lot of governors are already investing in the rail sector, from Lagos to Plateau, and even that of Kaduna, they have all indicated their interest in expanding railways in their states.

He said “The idea of unbundling the sector is to allow private sector participation. You can also see the huge investment the federal government is making in the sector to ensure infrastructure is in place.

“By the time you start freight from Lagos to Maradi, in line with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, we are going to generate a lot of money, it will make a lot of impact on the GDP of the country. By the time we link Port Harcourt and Onne ports through Aba to Maiduguri, you will see the transformation and you will see how it will be next to oil.

At the University of Transportation Daura, the Minister disclosed plans to give students specialised training that will make them take over the transportation system as a whole.

The minister also disclosed that there have been serious improvements by the contractors handling the rail construction since his last visit. “I have also directed the contractor to ensure the payment of compensations for those affected along the construction corridor,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Senator Adamu Aliero who led the delegation of the National Assembly, has pledged full support for the project which he said will be of great economic benefit to the country. He said the committee is really impressed by what it is seeing but a lot more needs to be done.

According to him, the inspection visit underscores the commitment of the current administration to give Nigerians a new lease of life.

He disclosed however that the progress made so far has been from the counterpart funds from the Nigerian government as that from other partners are yet to come.

At the University of Transportation Daura, the Senator confirms that a lot has been done to put the institution in good standing while insisting that much more needs to be done.

“It is a national university and for it to be able accommodate students from all over the country, it needs to expand its facilities. So far, with what we have seen, the federal government must build more facilities.

Currently, it can only receive about 1,300 students out of about 5000 requests for admission received.”

The Kano-Maradi railway project will cost Nigeria over $1.9B.

According to Minster, the Federal government is to pay 15% of the project while the partnership company source for the 85% funds on loan which the Federal government would pay within 50 years duration.

The project which started in 2022 by the Buhari administration is expected to be completed in December 2026.

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation is building a railway line that will connect Kano to Jigawa States, on northern border of Nigeria, and will extend across Niger to Maradi. In addition, a new branch line will be constructed from Kano to Dutse in Jigawa State, Nigeria. The new railway line with around 400 km and 13 stations, in three federated states of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina and will extend to Niger.

This new infrastructure will integrate rail transport with existing road transport to improve passenger and cargo transportation in the served states.

The objective is to develop the Nigerian rail network by promoting logistical integration with other transport networks, thus creating a fast, safe and ecological rail infrastructure to optimize and improve means.
Once completed, the railway is expected to transport 9,300 passengers and 3,000 tons of freight daily, stimulating agricultural and manufacturing growth along the route.

The project is a significant step towards developing Nigeria’s rail network and promoting logistical integration with other transport networks.