The Federal Government has secured $350 million from the African Development Bank to fund the Kano-Maradi rail project, connecting Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero during an oversight visit to the Nigeria Railway Corporation in Lagos, according to NAN.
Aliero said that the project is part of the government’s efforts to modernize the railway network and boost regional trade links.
“The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Adamu Aliero, says the African Development Bank has released $350 million to the Federal Government for construction of a rail line from Kano to Maradi,” the NAN report read in part.
He also noted that President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to China aimed to finalize negotiations for 85% of the financing required to upgrade and rehabilitate Nigeria’s rail infrastructure.
The Senator revealed that the supplementary budget passed by the National Assembly allocated over N530 billion as counterpart funding for the railway modernization efforts.
The remaining 85% of the financing will be sourced from institutions like China Exim Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the African Development Bank.
The federal government is prioritizing the modernization of rail transportation in Nigeria, with a focus on the timely completion of key projects.
One of the flagship initiatives is the 283.75 km Kano-Maradi railway, launched during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. This strategic rail line will connect Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, extending into Maradi in Niger Republic, thereby establishing a vital corridor for regional trade and connectivity.
