Kano-Daura Rail Project to Be Commissioned by December 2026 — Transport Ministry

The Federal Ministry of Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to completing and commissioning the Kano-Daura rail project by December 2026, despite security concerns and land acquisition challenges along the project corridor.

The ministry gave the assurance on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the ongoing rail project by officials of the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Federal Ministry of Finance and representatives of the project’s lenders.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, was represented during the inspection by the Director of Rail Transport Services, Engr. Habiba Buhari.

Buhari said the inspection was aimed at assessing the level of work completed and monitoring the implementation of the project.

“We are targeting the commissioning of the project by December, God willing, and there is no going back. We are on course,” she said.

She acknowledged the challenges associated with achieving physical progress on major infrastructure projects, particularly during the rainy season, but expressed optimism that the remaining track-laying activities would be completed within the target timeframe.

According to her, insecurity in some sections of the project corridor and land-related issues around Kano remain among the major factors slowing down construction.

She said the ministry had intensified consultations with relevant stakeholders to resolve issues arising from the application of the Land Use Act and create a conducive environment for construction to continue.

Funding Arrangement
Also speaking, the Director in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Dalhat Mohammed, who represented the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Raymond Omachi, said the monitoring exercise was also focused on evaluating the project’s progress and funding.

Mohammed said discussions with the construction company indicated that funds were being released as and when due, adding that substantial financial resources had already been committed to the project.

He described the Kano-Daura rail project as strategic and timely, saying its completion would deliver significant economic benefits to the country.

He explained that under the financing arrangement, the Federal Government would provide 15 per cent of the project cost, while the remaining 85 per cent would be provided through the financing facility.

Mohammed said the progress recorded so far demonstrated the government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations, particularly under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He added that the Federal Government remained focused on projects capable of directly improving the lives of Nigerians and supporting economic development.

284km Rail Corridor

The Finance Ministry official noted that the project covers approximately 284 kilometres, stressing that the length and strategic importance of the rail line justified the level of investment being made by the Federal Government.

As part of the inspection, the officials and their entourage conducted a test run of the train from Kazaure to Daura and inspected several facilities under construction along the project corridor.

The ministry maintained that, despite the challenges confronting the project, efforts were ongoing to ensure that the Kano-Daura rail line is completed and commissioned by December 2026.