FG secures $1.3bn for Kano-Maradi rail project

FG secures $1.3bn for Kano-Maradi rail project

The Federal Government has secured $1.3bn funding for the Kano-Maradi railway project. Maradi is in Niger Republic.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Jamilu Ja’afaru, Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali.

The rail project was initiated by the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and performed the groundbreaking event in 2021. It is aimed at strengthening the economic and regional cooperation between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Alkali recently said the rail project would be completed in 2025, with the earthworks reaching 80 per cent completion last year.

The latest statement from the ministry said, “The securing of $1.3bn for the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi Railway Project is a significant accomplishment.

“The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and a senior director with the African Development Bank, Muhammad Abdulrazak, have both endorsed the project as a catalyst for positive change, fostering economic growth and regional cooperation.”

The statement noted that the recent visit by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, Tang Zhigang, and his delegation, further bolstered optimism for the rail project’s potential to lay the groundwork for future prosperity between the two nations.

“The Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi rail line is a testament to our shared history and ambition for economic advancement. It will create a lasting legacy of wealth and opportunities for Nigeria and the Niger Republic,” Minister Alkali was quoted as saying.

“The Ministry of Transportation will continue to provide updates on this transformative venture, marking each achievement as we journey towards a brighter and more connected future,” the statement added.