The Nigerian Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has reiterated his commitment towards the country’s economic transformation through sustainable railway transportation.
The Minister stated this at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Kano-Kaduna Railway Project at the proposed Kano Mega Railway station at Zawaciki Kano State, North-west Nigeria.
Amaechi said “the Kano-Kaduna railway project is a part of the third and outstanding segment of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization project. The first segment; Abuja-Kaduna Railway line, was flagged-off for commercial operation in July 2016 and just recently, the second segment; Lagos-Ibadan railway line was commissioned for commercial operation precisely on June 10 2021. Having delivered Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project, the remaining stretch of Ibadan-Kano which traverses Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano has been segmented as follows: Kaduna-Kano segment, Ibadan-Minna segment and Minna-Abuja segment.”
Scope of project
The scope of the railway project involves a 203km double track standard gauge railway from Kano to Kaduna. The railway traverses the major cities of Kaduna, Zaria and Kano with three railway stations both for passenger and freight services at Rigachukun, Zaria and Kano with varying capacities and categories.
He noted that the project will link the Federal Capital, Abuja with the commercial city of Kano and also link the ongoing Kano-Maradi project.
“The outstanding addendum; Ibadan-Abuja, will link the Sea Ports in Lagos to Maradi, Niger Republic, which will greatly boost trade between the two countries and foster economic development. This railway line, will present an opportunity for Nigerians to traverse between Abuja and Kano via Kaduna with relative ease”, he said.
Amaechi added that the project will improve the standard of living of citizens within its corridor, create employment, promote trade and in the long term help decongest the Lagos Port Complex and increase its efficiency as well as further increase the viability of the Inland Dry Ports located in Ibadan, Kaduna and Kano.
He added that “the rail line is also provided with accessories and special installations including Power and Water Supply schemes, Signalling System & Communication in GSM-R, Freight yards, Rolling stock depots and maintenance workshops. The Ministry is finalizing plans to commence construction of the remaining addendum; Ibadan-Abuja to complete the entire stretch of the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernization project, the first of the modernization project in the 25-Year Strategic Vision plan of the Federal Government to revitalize our hitherto moribund railway transport subsector.”
The Minister said the Ministry of Transportation will continue to work assiduously in line with Mr. President’s directives, to implement all the corridors within the Nigeria Railway Modernization project and progressively expand the railway network.
Nneka Ukachukwu
