The Kaduna-Kano railway project is scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026, as the Federal Government moves towards expanding rail transportation and improving connections between major commercial centres in Northern Nigeria. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council announced the planned date, adding that the project has reached approximately 90 per cent completion.
The announcement also covers another major railway development in the region, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project, which the council says has attained 70 per cent completion. Both projects form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s railway network and provide additional transportation options for passengers and businesses.
According to a statement issued by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to complete the projects and deliver important sections for inauguration before the end of the year.
Kaduna-Kano Railway Records Major Construction Progress
The Kaduna-Kano railway forms part of the wider Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Standard Gauge Railway project, which will extend the existing Abuja-Kaduna railway line towards Zaria and Kano. The connection is expected to create a continuous rail route linking Abuja with three important cities in the North-West when the full corridor becomes operational.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council puts the wider project at approximately 90 per cent completion. It also stated that construction had progressed considerably since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, when the project was reportedly below 30 per cent completion.
However, the December 3 inauguration will cover the completed 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section rather than the entire railway corridor. The distinction matters because outstanding work remains around Kaduna metropolis, where land acquisition and compensation issues have affected the completion of the remaining connection.
President Tinubu has directed the relevant authorities to resolve those outstanding matters immediately, according to the council, so that construction teams can complete the railway link between Abuja and Kano.
The planned inauguration represents an important stage in the development of the route, although the announcement does not establish when regular passenger services will begin or provide a confirmed timetable for commercial operations.
Government Inspects Railway Construction and Conducts Test Run
Before announcing the planned inauguration, a Federal Government inspection team assessed construction work on the Kaduna-Kano railway and the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, led the team following a directive from President Tinubu.
During the inspection, officials examined several components of the railway infrastructure, including track alignment, drainage systems, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation. These features play important roles in supporting the railway structure, protecting the tracks and maintaining safe operating conditions.
The inspection also included a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano, which allowed officials to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort. The campaign council said Adebiyi expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction and the progress recorded along the route.
The test run provides evidence that officials have begun assessing the completed section, but it should not be confused with the commencement of regular passenger services. Authorities have yet to announce a confirmed date for commercial operations.
Kano-Katsina-Maradi Railway Also Included in December Plans
The Kaduna-Kano railway is not the only northern rail project expected to receive attention on December 3. The APC Presidential Campaign Council also announced plans to inaugurate a completed 250-kilometre section of the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project.
The 400-kilometre project has reportedly reached 70 per cent completion, compared with barely five per cent when the Tinubu administration took office in 2023, according to the council.
The section scheduled for inauguration covers the Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina route. Once the wider railway project becomes operational, it is expected to improve transportation links across the region and support cross-border trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The project could also provide businesses and traders with another option for moving goods across communities along the route, although its wider economic benefits will depend on the completion of the remaining sections and the commencement of regular services.
What the Railway Could Mean for Northern Nigeria
The Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road transportation along one of Northern Nigeria’s important commercial corridors. By connecting Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, the route could improve passenger movement while creating additional opportunities for businesses that depend on transportation between the cities.
The railway may also support trade by making it easier to move goods between major markets and commercial centres. However, the actual benefits will depend on reliable train services, affordable fares, effective maintenance and the completion of the remaining infrastructure.
For now, the December 3 inauguration remains a key milestone announced by the APC Presidential Campaign Council. The completion of the outstanding work, particularly around Kaduna metropolis, will be important to establishing the full rail connection between Abuja and Kano.
The Federal Government’s next major task will be to move beyond construction milestones and ensure that the railway delivers dependable transportation services to the communities and businesses along the corridor.