The Federal Government has announced the commencement of light rail projects in Northern Nigeria, starting with Kaduna and Kano States. The initiative, unveiled under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is aimed at transforming urban transportation and boosting economic growth in the region.

The projects will be executed through public private partnerships (PPPs), coordinated by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). According to the Minister of Transportation Saidu Ahmed Alkali, a joint committee comprising representatives from the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) will be inaugurated in the coming days to drive the process.

“The committee will deliver its first report within two weeks and groundbreaking for the Kaduna light rail system is scheduled for September 2025,” Alkali stated.

Alongside the light rail initiative, the government provided updates on other major railway projects. The standard gauge Kaduna-Kano rail modernisation project is now 53% complete while the Kano–Maradi line, linking Nigeria to Niger Republic, has reached 61% completion. Similarly, a 61 kilometre section of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri corridor has been completed and is already operational.

The Federal Government said these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs with average monthly earnings of ₦150,000 and attract more than ₦70 billion in private sector investments.

The Kaduna and Kano light rail systems will be the first urban mass transit projects of their kind in Northern Nigeria, complementing the existing rail modernization works and improving connectivity within and between major cities.

Key Highlights

Kaduna and Kano light rail: Planning underway, PPP funding secured, groundbreaking in September 2025.
Kaduna-Kano rail modernization: 53% complete, full delivery expected by 2026.
Kano-Maradi railway: 61% complete, linking Nigeria with Niger Republic.
Job creation: 250,000 plus jobs expected, ₦70 billion private investment projected.