By Demilade Adeniyi
An excited Nigerian President Mr Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said the Kano-Maradi rail project will significantly boost Africa’s economic integration and free trade.
The rail line traverses Kano and passes through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the Niger Republic city of Maradi.
The project is expected to boost import and export of goods between Nigeria, Niger and other neighbouring landlocked countries.
Buhari disclosed this at the groundbreaking of the project, which he flagged off at a virtual ceremony.
It was the second major rail infrastructure that President Buhari would be attracting to his home state, the first being the University of Transportation, built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the contractor handling the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line. Same firm is to complete the third and final leg of the project, from Ibadan – Kano.
Stating the economic viability of the project, Buhari said: “This vital infrastructure line will establish an end-to-end logistics supply chain in railway transport services between Northern and Southern regions of the country, reaching Nigeria’s 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 agricultural and mineral 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.”
He continued: “The project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for 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 Niger Republic will benefit from ease of transportation logistics at affordable cost in their import and export business.
“The connection to Niger Republic through rail will also foster Trans-Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.”
He also commended the firm handling the project, Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited for indicating to support knowledge and technology transfer through the establishment of Institution for Transportation and Railway Science.
Speaking on other rail corridors, the president said he has directed the Minister to make arrangement with appropriate co-financiers for the development of the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar.
He said: “We have in the rail sector embarked on the completion of the 1,424 Kilometer Lagos – Kano rail line to join the one being flagged-off today for the country’s Western axis.
“On the Eastern corridor, the Port Harcourt – Enugu – Makurdi – Maiduguri rail line with branches to Owerri, Imo state and Damaturu, Yobe state have been awarded for reconstruction to include a deep sea port in Bonny Island and a Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt with the objectives of achieving a vibrant and functional railway infrastructure in the Eastern part of the country.
“The Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance have been directed to vigorously act on engagement and concluding financial arrangement with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal Government for the development of the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar and linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenegao, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.”
He also expressed optimism that the Itakpe-Abuja railway line would be completed before the end of his tenure.
He said: “The contract for the important Central Railway traversing Itakpe – Baro – Abuja with connection to Lokoja and a new seaport in Warri has been signed and is expected to achieve appreciable level of completion during the tenure of this administration.”
He urged private sectors to invest and participate in the realization of economic opportunities in the transport sector.
Also speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the institution to be established by the construction firm would be located in Rivers State.
According to him: “We already have a Transportation University being built in Daura. So we have decided that the Portugese Company in charge of Kano-Maradi rail line, Mota Engil will build a Multi-disciplinary University in Rivers State as a major component of their corporate social responsibility.”
Giving further details of the project, he said: “The scope of this project having its corridor within Kano, Katsina, Jigawa states and a 25Km extension into Niger Republic involves construction of single track standard gauge rail line with an alignment of approximately 284Km traversing Kano – Dambatta – Kazaure – Shargelle – Mashi – Daura – Katsina – Jibiya – Maradi and a 94Km branch line from Kano to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
“The entire network of this project has 15 railway stations of different categories with major stations of approximately 3,000 peak passenger capacity in cities of Kano and Katsina and stations of standard category in Kazaure, Daura, Jibiya and Dutse and minor stations in Dambatta, Shargelle and Mashi as well as halt stations in Kunya, Kano airport, Muduru, Dadara and in Niger Republic at Annol Mata and Maradi.
“The rail line is also provided with accessories and special installations including Power and Water Supply schemes, Signalling System & Communication in GSM-Railway, Freight yards, Rolling stock depots and maintenance workshops.”
He said the project would a substantial level in two years time.
“This project will reach a substantial completion in year 2023 when it will be ready to handle passenger and freight daily traffic forecast of 9,364 passengers and approximately 3,000 metric tons of freight on return trips between Kano and Maradi.
“There is no doubt that this route when linked with the ongoing Lagos – Kano railway project on completion, will generate higher traffic volumes and revenue.”
The Minister of Transportation Niger Republic, Sadou Seydou expressed pleasure for the ground breaking ceremony stating that the project was an important landmark in the good relationship between Niger Republic and Nigeria.
He said: “This is an important project for the both countries regarding transportation, economic development, attainment of peace and security.
“The project will help Niger Republic in the development of transport infrastructure and facilitate movement of goods and services across the border.”
Amaechi performed the ground breaking in company of some of his colleagues in the cabinet, governors and legislators.
They include; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu and Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede.
Others are the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Abubakar.