$1.2bn Kano- Kaduna rail on course
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that the Kano- Kaduna standard gauge rail construction...
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that the KanoKaduna standard gauge rail construction project which he personally flagged-off in Kano will upon completion, facilitate economic integration and social development
The president made this declaration in Kano while performing the official groundbreaking ceremony of the $1.2billion Kano-Kaduna railway project at the proposed mega railway station at Zawaciki Kano.
The Kano-Kaduna railway project is a part of the third and outstanding segment of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization project.
It would be recalled that, the first segment which is the 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.
Rotimi Chibuike, minister of transportation stated that having delivered Abuja-Kaduna and LagosIbadan railway project, that the remaining stretch of Ibadan-Kano which traverses Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano are to be segmented as follows: Kaduna-Kano segment. Ibadan-Minna segment and the Minna-Abuja segment
The scope of the railway project involves a 203km double track
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 the moribund railway transport subsector.
He assured that the federal ministry of transportation will continue to work assiduously in line with the President’s directives, to implement all the corridors within the Nigeria railway ‘modernization project and progressively expand the railway network.
He noted that, the President administration has exhibited strong will in driving the overhaul of the nation’s railway system through President Buhari’s intervention and support.
He assured that the ministry remains committed to the vision for a strong and sustainable railway transportation backbone to engender and facilitate a new path to positive economic transformation of the country.
The minister thanked the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, being the project contractor for their professionalism and astuteness in the construction of the railway infrastructure and TEAM Nigeria Limited for their supervisory role.