Nigeria's President Tinubu sets Dec 3 date for Kaduna‑Kano rail inauguration as projects near completion

President Bola Tinubu has announced that the 203‑kilometre Kaduna‑Kano Standard Gauge Railway will be inaugurated on 3 December 2026. The declaration was made in a statement issued by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, whose spokesperson De le Alake said the line is now about 90 per cent complete. A second northern rail project, the 400‑kilometre Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi railway, is reported to be 70 per cent finished.

Alake’s statement highlighted that the Kaduna‑Kano line, an extension of the existing Abuja‑Kaduna standard gauge route, will create a continuous rail link between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano. The government says the projects are part of a broader push to improve transport links across major commercial centres in northern Nigeria.

Background

When Tinubu took office in 2023, the Kaduna‑Kano railway was less than 30 per cent complete, while the Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi line was barely five per cent finished. According to the APC‑PCC, the Kaduna‑Kano project has now reached roughly 90 per cent completion, and the Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi line has risen to 70 per cent. The statement noted that a federal inspection team recently carried out a test run from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess track quality and passenger comfort.

The Kaduna‑Kano line is intended to extend the Abuja‑Kaduna standard gauge, linking the capital with key northern cities. The Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi railway is designed to connect Nigeria with the neighbouring Niger Republic, enhancing regional trade.

Why it matters

The rail upgrades are positioned as a means to boost movement of passengers and goods across the north, potentially reducing road congestion and transport costs. The APC‑PCC said the projects demonstrate the administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s railway infrastructure and facilitating economic activity in the region. Completion of the Jaji‑Kano section, which spans 190 kilometres, has already been reported, and the government is addressing land compensation issues to keep construction on schedule.

Stakeholders, including commercial operators and local communities, are expected to benefit from improved connectivity. The projects also align with broader national goals of modernising transport networks and fostering cross‑border trade with Niger.

What happens next

The government plans to hold the inauguration ceremony on 3 December 2026, marking the formal commissioning of the Kaduna‑Kano line. Further statements from the APC‑PCC indicated that work on the remaining sections of both railways will continue, with the aim of completing the full routes in the near term. No additional dates for the final completion of the Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi line were provided in the sources.