Senate announces China Development Bank as new financier to complete Kaduna-Kano rail project

This change follows the withdrawal of the previous financier, China Exim Bank, in 2020 due to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement by Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.

The Kaduna-Kano railway, a 203-kilometer standard-gauge line, is designed to link Kano to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to completing the broader Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project, continuing the strides made by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in revolutionizing Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.

In January, the China Development Bank approved $255 million in funding for the Kaduna-Kano segment of the railway, currently under construction by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The project includes new stations at Rigachukun, Zaria, and Kano and will connect with the Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Maradi rail lines, enhancing access to Abuja.

The China Development Bank reaffirmed its support for the project in a statement, highlighting its potential to transform regional connectivity.

“Once completed, it will provide direct rail connectivity between Kano, an important northern city in Nigeria, and the country’s capital Abuja, offering local residents a safe, efficient, and convenient mode of transportation,” the bank stated.

What you should know

The Minister explained that the government approached China to secure funding for these key infrastructure projects. In response to concerns, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that the railway project would be completed to benefit Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.

“The Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project will be completed to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large,” he emphasized.

The Federal Government recently announced that construction on the Kaduna-Kano rail line is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Additionally, the government expressed plans to commence a high-speed rail project from Abuja to Lagos within the same time frame.