The Nigerian Senate has appointed the China Development Bank as the new financier for the Kaduna-Kano rail modernisation project, marking a crucial step toward completing the initiative.
This follows the withdrawal of the previous financier, China Exim Bank, in 2020, due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, as stated by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media.
The 203-kilometre standard-gauge railway line is intended to connect Kano to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project, building on the progress made by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in transforming the nation’s railway infrastructure.
In January, the China Development Bank approved $255 million to fund the Kaduna-Kano segment, which is being constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The project will include new stations in Rigachukun, Zaria, and Kano, linking with the Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Maradi rail lines and improving access to Abuja.
The China Development Bank emphasised its support for the project, highlighting its potential to enhance regional connectivity and offer efficient, safe, and convenient transport for residents.
The $973 million project has faced delays primarily due to funding challenges.
Last year, Minister of Transportation Saidu Alkali noted that China is financing key segments of the Lagos-Kano railway under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Despite these challenges, the Nigerian government remains committed to completing the railway project, with the completion date set for the end of this year.
The government is also preparing to begin a high-speed rail project connecting Abuja to Lagos.
