Connecting people, farms and markets to boost trade, improve mobility and lower logistics costs.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser MFR.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is driving major railway projects in Northern Nigeria towards completion, with selected sections scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026, according to the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The programme promises stronger connections between commercial centres, wider markets for agricultural produce and more efficient movement of passengers and goods.
In a statement dated November 8 and signed by Dele Alake as its spokesperson, the campaign council reported approximately 90 per cent completion of the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway and 70 per cent completion of the Kano–Katsina–Maradi project.
According to the council, this represents substantial progress from May 2023, when Kano–Katsina–Maradi was about five per cent complete and Kaduna–Kano was 15% per cent complete according to a statement credited to the Transportation Minister Saidu Alkali.
“The projects demonstrate the administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods across the country and beyond,” the statement said.
FROM CONSTRUCTION TO CONNECTIVITY
The council identified the 190-kilometre Jaji–Kano section and the approximately 250-kilometre Dawanu–Kano–Kazaure–Daura–Katsina section for the December 3 inauguration.
These form part of the wider railway developments, with construction towards Maradi in Niger Republic continuing under the broader project.
The Kaduna–Kano railway is intended to extend the existing Abuja–Kaduna standard gauge service, establishing a continuous connection through Kaduna and Zaria to Kano once the outstanding link is completed.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation has separately reported approximately 90 per cent completion of the Kaduna–Zaria–Kano project, following an inspection that included a train journey from Jaji to Kano.
According to the campaign council, the inspection team was led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, on the President’s directive.
Officials assessed railway alignment, drainage, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation—engineering components essential to durable infrastructure and dependable train operations.
The statement also said Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis. The transportation ministry has identified these claims as an obstacle to completing the connection between Jaji and the existing Abuja–Kaduna corridor.
THE PRESIDENT’S DEVELOPMENT VISION
The railway push reflects the infrastructure priorities articulated by Tinubu in his May 29, 2026 anniversary address:
> “From highways under construction to rail modernisation and expanded energy investments, our goal remains clear: to build a Nigeria that works for Nigerians.”
— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, May 29, 2026.
For citizens, that ambition has a concrete meaning: transport that makes it easier to reach work, conduct business, deliver goods and maintain commercial relationships across long distances.
The development case also has an international parallel:
> “The businesses of tomorrow will not locate near old roads, outdated ports—they’re going to go to places where the ports are good, the roads are good, the rail lines are good, you’ve got high-speed Internet, you’ve got high-tech schools, trained workers, systems that move air traffic and auto traffic faster.”
— Former United States President Barack Obama remarks on infrastructure and the economy, July 2013.
Although addressing American investment, Obama’s argument has clear relevance to Nigeria: businesses require dependable connections between production, workers and customers.
WHAT FARMERS, TRADERS AND HOUSEHOLDS STAND TO GAIN
For a farmer, producing a successful harvest is only part of the economic journey. Reaching a buyer at an affordable transport cost can determine whether that harvest generates a worthwhile return.
Efficient freight services could help agricultural cooperatives consolidate produce, reach larger markets and supply processors more consistently. Manufacturers could gain greater certainty over deliveries of raw materials, while wholesalers could move substantial consignments with less dependence on long-distance trucking.
The World Bank identifies railway transport as particularly useful for moving large volumes of bulk commodities and connecting production centres with regional and international markets.
The potential gains extend to consumers. Where competitive rail freight reduces distribution costs, businesses have greater room to offer affordable prices. More dependable deliveries can also reduce the disruption and uncertainty that add costs to supply chains.
Those benefits will depend on service frequency, freight charges, cargo-handling facilities and effective connections between stations, warehouses and final destinations. Faster logistics means improving the entire delivery journey, including loading, transfers and collection.
Rail and road transport can reinforce one another: trains carrying suitable long-distance consignments, with trucks and smaller vehicles handling collection and final delivery.
A WIDER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
The Kano–Katsina–Maradi project offers the additional prospect of stronger cross-border commerce when the remaining infrastructure, border procedures and operating arrangements are in place.
Within Nigeria, construction has already supported employment and technical training. Earlier government inspections reported more than 4,500 workers engaged on the wider project, alongside opportunities for Nigerian engineers and technicians to acquire specialised skills.
Operational services could sustain further activity in maintenance, warehousing, cargo handling, distribution and station-based commerce.
“In line with President Tinubu’s agenda, all ongoing infrastructure projects will be delivered in every part of the country as scheduled,” the campaign council stated.
The December inauguration target is an important milestone. The enduring achievement will be railway services that connect communities reliably, strengthen enterprise and help translate public investment into improvements citizens experience in their daily lives.
NATIONAL PATRIOTS’ COMMENT
The National Patriots commends President Tinubu’s determination to complete these strategic rail projects and connect infrastructure investment with economic opportunity. Farmers need markets, manufacturers need dependable logistics, and families need affordable movement and goods. Efficient railway services can support all three. Sustained security, maintenance and accessible pricing will help these investments deliver lasting benefits across communities and strengthen national prosperity.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
President, National Patriots
Member, APC-PCC Strategic Communications Committee 2027
