Kano-Maradi rail will foster trans-Saharan trade – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said connecting Niger Republic through rail would foster trans-Saharan trade and facilitate the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

The President stated this while virtually presiding over the ground-breaking ceremony for the commencement of the rail line from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line with Kano branch line was “another vital transportation infrastructure” that would significantly enhance the movement of passengers and freight to the hinterland especially raw materials from both agricultural and mineral resources for ther industries.

According to him, it will traverse the major commercial and administrative centre of Kano and pass through other major cities in the North of the country such as Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the Niger Republic city of Maradi.

The President noted the cities of Jibiya and Maradi as constituting significant trading centres between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, adding that the tradition dated back many centuries.

Buhari said, “This vital infrastructure line will establish an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport services between northern and southern regions of the country, reaching Nigerian southern ports of Lagos and Warri.

“The entire route encompasses territory inhabited by close to 80 million people across 10 states of the country. This project has a branch line to Dutse the capital of Jigawa State to open up this corridor which is endowed with vast resources.

“The Kano-Maradi rail line has been identified as a viable line that will significantly enhance the movement of passengers and freight to the hinterland especially raw materials from both agricultural and mineral resources for our industries.

“The project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for the Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports. The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of the Niger Republic will benefit from the ease of transportation logistics at an affordable cost in their import and export business.

“The connection to the Niger Republic through rail will also foster trans-Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.”

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in his address at the event held in Katsina, said the rail line would be substantially completed in 2023 and ready to handle 9,324 passengers and 3,000 metric tonnes of freight daily.

“When linked with the Lagos-Ibadan-Kano standard gauge rail line, it will no doubt generate higher volume of traffic and revenue,” he added.

The governors of Katsina, Kano and Jigawa states, Bello Masari, Abdullahi Ganduje and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar respectively, who spoke at the forum, expressed excitement at the commencement of the project and commended President Buhari for making it a reality.