President Bola Tinubu has fixed December 3, 2026, for the inauguration of completed sections of two major railway projects linking key commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
The projects are the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway and the Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway, both expected to improve passenger movement, boost trade and strengthen regional connectivity.
According to a statement by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, the Kaduna–Kano railway has reached approximately 90 per cent completion, while the Kano–Katsina–Maradi project is about 70 per cent complete.
The scheduled inauguration will cover the 190-kilometre Jaji–Kano section of the Kaduna–Kano corridor and a 250-kilometre stretch of the Kano–Maradi railway running through Dawanu, Kano, Kazaure, Daura and Katsina.
The development marks a significant step towards connecting major economic centres in the North through an expanded rail network.
The Kaduna–Kano railway is an extension of the existing Abuja–Kaduna Standard Gauge line. When fully completed, it will provide a continuous rail connection linking Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.
The Kano–Katsina–Maradi corridor is also expected to strengthen cross-border trade and transportation between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
Alake said the projects had recorded substantial progress since Tinubu assumed office in 2023, noting that the Kano–Katsina–Maradi line was then barely five per cent complete, while the Kaduna–Kano project had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.
Both projects were recently inspected by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.
The team reportedly assessed the quality of construction, including railway alignment, drainage systems, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
Officials also undertook a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
As part of efforts to complete the Kaduna–Kano corridor, Tinubu directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis.
The December 3 inauguration is expected to mark another milestone in the Federal Government’s railway expansion programme, although the full completion of both projects remains ongoing.