Kano–Maradi Rail to Reach Katsina by December 2025, Full Completion in 2027,. Assures Minister

The Federal Government has announced that the Kano–Maradi standard gauge railway project will extend to Katsina by December 2025, with full completion scheduled for March 2027.

Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, made the disclosure during the 2nd Transport Summit of the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) in Lagos. Represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the minister said the rail line remains a priority for the administration as it will enhance trade and regional integration.

According to Alkali, construction work on the corridor has seen significant progress. The Kano–Maradi section, which was about 15 percent complete when the current administration took office, has now reached over 60 percent. Similarly, the Kaduna–Kano segment has moved from about 5 percent to more than 50 percent completion.

He described the project as a strategic gateway to West African markets, noting that it will strengthen Nigeria’s trade connections with neighboring Niger Republic and beyond.

The minister also revealed that the Federal Executive Council has approved the establishment of modern bus terminals in cities such as Kano, Onitsha, Warri, Lokoja, Gombe, and Abeokuta, with the aim of reducing congestion, improving passenger flow, and phasing out unregulated motor parks.

Alkali further highlighted progress on other transport projects, including the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Kano narrow-gauge line, the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri corridor, and the recently reopened Port Harcourt–Aba section.

He stressed that the timely delivery of the Kano–Maradi rail is central to the government’s broader agenda of modernizing Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, boosting economic activity, and providing affordable, reliable mobility for Nigerians.

Observers, however, caution that the ambitious timeline may face challenges such as funding constraints, inflation, and security concerns, which have slowed down past projects. Nonetheless, the minister expressed optimism that the December 2025 milestone for Katsina and the March 2027 full completion target will be achieved.