Kaduna-Kano Rail 90% Complete, FG Targets Seamless Abuja-Kano Train Service
The Federal Government has said the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano standard gauge railway project has reached about 90 per cent completion, with plans to ensure seamless train services from Abuja through Kaduna and Zaria to Kano.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection tour and train ride from Jaji to Kano.
Adebiyi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work, describing the rail alignment, embankment protection, drainage, stone-pitching and soil stabilisation works as excellent and compliant with specifications.
“I want to confess that the quality of work is next to none. The rail alignment apparently is excellent,” he said, noting that elevation changes of up to six metres along some sections showed the volume of earthwork done.
In a statement by Kate Nwachuku, the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, the Permanent Secretary said he was delighted at the smooth movement of the train from Jaji to Kano.
He, however, identified outstanding land acquisition and compensation claims within Kaduna metropolis as the major obstacle delaying the remaining link between Jaji and the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.
Adebiyi assured that the government was addressing the issue and that it would receive immediate attention upon return to Abuja, adding that President Bola Tinubu was committed to completing the project soon.
According to him, the inspected section covers about 145 kilometres of the broader 200-kilometre Kaduna-Kano route, with only about 10 kilometres of work remaining on the stretch.
He also disclosed that sections extending from Kano through Kazaure and Daura to Katsina are targeted for completion by December, with work ongoing round the clock.
The Director, Rail Transport Services in the Ministry, Engr. Habiba Buhari, highlighted that the inspection was to assess technical quality ahead of finalisation and test runs, including track geometry, alignment, drainage and concrete works.
“We are here to check the geometry, the alignment, drainage facilities, quality of concrete works. We just want to finalise and test-run,” she said.
Buhari added that the smooth train movement also provided an opportunity to assess passenger comfort and engage stakeholders as the project nears completion.
The Kaduna-Kano railway is a major component of the Federal Government’s plan to expand the rail network, improve connectivity between major commercial centres in the North-West and provide an alternative to road travel.
