President Bola Tinubu has announced that the Kano–Maradi rail project, which stood at just five per cent completion when he assumed office in 2023, is now approaching 60 per cent completion.
The President made this known in Abuja at the 2nd International Railway Conference & Expo 2025, themed “Opportunities and Challenges in Railway Development in Africa.”
Tinubu underscored the strategic importance of rail transportation to Nigeria’s future growth, saying, “By 2050, we will be the third most populous nation on earth. We will surpass the United States, and our population will hit four hundred and forty million people.
“Hence, railway will become the bridge between our agricultural commodities and the rest of the world, while serving as the most reliable means of mass transportation for our people.
This is why the world has remained committed to railway services, they are more than a means of transport; they are the backbone of industrialisation.”
He stressed that his administration’s transport agenda is driven by the urgent need to ease pressure on Nigeria’s roads.
“This is why our ongoing modernisation projects, Lagos to Kano, Kano to Maradi, and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri are designed with open doors for private sector participation. We must ensure not just timely completion but also sustainability and efficient utilisation of these projects,” he said.
The President expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, noting, “I am happy to report that when we came in, the Kano–Maradi rail project was just five per cent completed. Today, we are inching towards 60 per cent completion.”
Tinubu further highlighted his vision for a nationwide industrial ecosystem where raw materials move seamlessly from primary producers to industries and finished products reach markets without obstruction.
In his remarks, Minister of Transport Said Alkali pointed to the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the construction of ultra-modern bus terminals across the six geopolitical zones, saying this would improve public safety and passenger welfare.
He added that railway infrastructure offers a platform for national integration and immense market opportunities, reiterating the government’s readiness to provide the leadership needed to attract public-private partnerships and accelerate investment in the sector.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described the project as part of a broader integrated plan involving high-speed rail, power generation and transmission, energy infrastructure, and digital platforms, all designed to drive inclusive growth and foster national unity.
See also:
Why FG Reintroduces History As Compulsory Subject
Tinubu Lifts Six-Month State Of Emergency In Rivers
Adeleke Denies Rumoured Defection To ADC
Fubara Will Have ‘Zero’ Powers When He Resumes Office – Cole
Ondo Attorney General Hails Agboola Ajayi For Withdrawing Supreme Court Appeal
