The Nigerian government maintained the target of commissioning in December 2026, despite the difficulties of security, access to land and the seasonal slowdown in work.

According to the Nigerian authorities, the 284-kilometre railway project between Kano and Katsina reached about 80 per cent physical realization. Progress was noted during a joint inspection conducted from 25 to 27 August by the federal departments of Transport and Finance, representatives of the financial agencies and the company responsible for the work.

The operation included a circulation test on the completed portion between Kazaure and Katsina. The authorities maintain their objective of commissioning the Kano-Katsina section in December 2026.

However, the work was affected by several constraints. The rainy season has slowed down some activities, while security concerns persist on several sections of the corridor. Disputes over access to land and certain canal areas also complicate the intervention of teams.

The Government indicated that it had initiated discussions with the communities concerned to facilitate access to the remaining rights-of-way. The materials needed to lay the tracks would already be available on the project site, while steps are being taken to ensure the arrival of the rolling stock before commissioning.

Project funding is based on a combination of loans and public contributions. The federal government supports 15% of funding, while the remaining 85% is covered by a funding facility.

The Ministry of Finance representative, Muhammadu Kamal, confirmed that the public contribution had been released in accordance with the commitments.

For its part, Siya Biniza, representative of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, reported that the institution had invested approximately $250 million in the project. The corridor is to be the first phase of the railway project linking Kano to Maradi, Niger.

The company Mota-Engil Nigeria, in charge of the work, confirmed its goal of completing the Kano-Katsina section in December 2026. The second phase, linking Katsina to Maradi, is scheduled for the end of 2027.

The project is part of the development of a rail link between northern Nigeria and Niger. The Nigerian authorities and the financial partners are monitoring the progress of the work to enable the first section to be put into operation in the announced timetable.