The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to completing and commissioning the Kano-Katsina railway project by December 2026.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, made this known during a joint inspection of the project by officials of the ministries of Transportation and Finance, lending institutions and other stakeholders.
The inspection included a test run of the completed rail track from Kazauri to Katsina.
Adebiyi, who was represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Engr. Habibat Buhari, said the project remained on course despite some setbacks.
She said the rainy season had slightly slowed down construction activities, but significant progress had been recorded.
According to her, the government is working to ensure that all outstanding activities are completed within the approved timeline.
“We have done a lot of work for just one per cent physical progress,” she said.
Buhari said the project had reached a stage where major construction activities could be accelerated to meet the completion deadline.
Also speaking, the Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Muhammadu Kamal, said government releases for the project were being made as and when due.
Kamal said the Federal Government had released its 15 per cent counterpart funding under the project agreement.
He said the level of work completed so far demonstrated the government’s commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations.
The Senior Country Officer and representative of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Siya Biniza, said the bank had invested about 250 million dollars in the project.
Biniza described the railway as a strategic infrastructure investment with significant economic benefits for Northern Nigeria and the wider region.
He said the project would enhance connectivity and contribute to economic development in the region.
Meanwhile, the contractor, Mota-Engil Nigeria, reaffirmed its commitment to completing the Kano-Katsina section by December 2026.
The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vladislav Bystrenko, who represented the contractor, said the first phase covering the Kano-Katsina corridor was expected to be completed by December.
He assured that the company remained committed to delivering the project within the agreed timeline.
