‘Kano-Maradi Rail to facilitate Trade between Nigeria and Niger’ – Minister

The Nigerian government said that the Kano-Maradi rail line would facilitate trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this during the ground breaking ceremony of the 284km Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail project in Katsina, the Katsina State Capital.

Amaechi stated that the rail project which will be completed in 2023, represents the last section of the corridor that connects Lagos-Kano and subsequently to the Republic of Niger, through the border town of Maradi.

According to him, the place, which is a standard gauge railway line of about 284km, traverses Kano-Dambatta-Kazaure-Daura-Mashi-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic.

“The line has been designed to pass close to major cities, towns and villages without dividing them to facilitate public transportation and to stimulate the development of the agricultural economy and manufacturing industries along the corridor as well reduce the cost development”, he said.

He said the project was planned to have a total of 15 stations including Maradi which comprises two main stations in Kano and Katsina, three medium stations in Kazaure, Daura and Jibiya, three small stations in Shagalle, Dambatta and Mashi, with other Halt stations at the Airport, Kunya Dube,Muduru, Daddara, Anoal Mata and Maradi.

Importance of rail line
The rail line which has a branch line to Kano-Dutse is important because of its potential in harnessing raw materials and agro products along the corridor.

“The project when completed will serve domestic industries and play the role of a viable transportation backbone, linking countries in the West Africa sub-region starting with the neighbouring Niger Republic for their import and export logistics chain.

In the process, the volume of trade in the country will increase while promoting the realisation of Nigeria’s interest on the Africa Free Trade Single Market Area formulation.

The railway will account for average freight carriage forecast of 1,043,980.5 tons annually in the first 10years of operation within its short corridor and a forecast of average passenger traffic of 3,543,637.9 annually within the same period.

A geometrical increase in this service is expected when it is linked to the South Nigeria port of Apapa, Tin-can Island and Warri is realised by the construction of Lagos-Kano and Abuja-Itakpe respectively to average forecast of 2.2million tons annually and passenger traffic of average of 5.1million”, Amaechi added.

Mr Amaechi noted that the main agricultural crops grown in commercial quantity along the corridor are groundnuts, cassava, yam, potatoes, millet, maize, rice, beans, as food crops and livestock include cattle, sheep, goat and poultry.

The total population of the three states concerned by the new line which is Kano, Katsina and Maradi has 19,563,874 inhabitants in 2006 and was estimated at 22,166,543 in 2010, which by estimated annual growth rate of 2.7% will amount to 28,933,988 in 2020 which represents 14% of the total population of Nigeria.

Freight movement
Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhirha said with the Lagos to Kano rail linking up to Maradi, it will give potential to freight movement from Niger to the Port.

Mr Okhiria maintained that, by the time the train is opened up, employment would be generated whether direct or indirect.

He stated that all the rail projects they have been involved in have been through China, but this is the first time they are getting from Europe, Portugal.

Economic benefits
The contractor of the project Chief Executive Officer, Messrs Mota-Engil Nigeria Ltd, Manuel Mota, said the reason for the project was because it is competitive and has identified it as an opportunity project for them, having had large experience in railway project.

Mr Mota said apart from economic benefits the project would bring, it also has a huge impact on competitive business of the capacity to import and export along industries that will develop along the rail lines can now locate themselves in the northern part of the country to provide export and bring economic benefits in terms of agriculture, manufacturing industries.

He averred that the railway isn’t the flow of people alone but goods and the benefits are huge and strategic.

The ground breaking ceremony was well attended by the Minister and Minister of Transportation from Niger, Governors, Ambassadors, Senators, Royal fathers and other important stakeholders in the sector.

Nneka Ukachukwu