President Bola Tinubu is expected to inaugurate the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway project on December 3, 2026, as the Federal Government pushes to complete major rail projects across Northern Nigeria.
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project had reached approximately 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail project had attained 70 per cent completion.
The statement, signed by the council’s spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said both projects had recorded significant progress since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
According to the council, the Kaduna-Kano railway was less than 30 per cent complete at the time, while the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project stood at about five per cent.
The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is accelerating the completion of major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
“The 203-kilometre Kaduna–Zaria–Kano railway project, one of the administration’s legacy projects, has reached approximately 90 per cent completion, while the 400-kilometre Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway project has attained 70 per cent completion.
“When President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the Kano–Katsina–Maradi rail project was barely five per cent complete, while the Kaduna–Kano project was less than 30 per cent complete.”
The council said the Kaduna-Kano railway would extend the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line, establishing a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.
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It added that the projects were expected to improve regional connectivity, facilitate the movement of passengers and goods, and strengthen commercial activities across Northern Nigeria.
The APC PCC also disclosed that a Federal Government inspection team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, had recently assessed the projects on the directive of the President.
According to the statement, the team expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
The inspection also included a train test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
The council said Tinubu had directed that outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis be resolved immediately to facilitate the completion of the railway corridor between Abuja and Kano.
It further stated that the 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway and the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project were expected to be inaugurated on December 3, 2026.
The Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road transportation along one of Northern Nigeria’s major commercial corridors when fully operational.
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway, on the other hand, is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic.
The council said the Tinubu administration remained committed to completing ongoing infrastructure projects across the country, adding that railway development formed part of the President’s broader economic agenda.
The ruling party has continued to highlight infrastructure projects as part of its record ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Tinubu seeking a second term in office.