The $1.96bn Kano-Katsina-Jigawa-Maradi rail project is still ongoing despite the recent tensions between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
The Kano-Katsina-Jigawa-Maradi rail project, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2020, aims to connect Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states in Nigeria with Maradi in Niger Republic.
The project is expected to stimulate economic growth, improve transportation, and facilitate trade between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
In Jigawa State, our correspondent observed during a visit to the project sites that the work on the project has resumed, with workers and equipment actively engaged at the sites.
Residents of villages such as Dundubus, Sabon Garin Dan Malam, as well as Shuwarin, and Andaza towns, in Jigawa, Dutse environ who were interviewed exclusively by Arewa PUNCH Correspondent, expressed their excitement about the project’s progress.
Malam Musa, a resident of Dundubus town, Dutse Local Government area expressed his delight at the resumption of work on the railway project, adding that “it’s our hoped that the project would bring economic benefits and improve transportation in the region.
“We are very happy that the work has started again. We hope that when the project is completed, it will bring economic benefits to our community. We expect to see more businesses and job opportunities,” said Malam Musa.
A trader in Sabon Garin Dan Malam, Nura Garba shared his optimism about the project’s potential impact, saying, “I believe the railway will make it easier for us to transport our goods to other places. It will also attract more customers to our community. We are looking forward to seeing the positive changes it will bring.”
Alhaji Abdullahi Mikaila Shuwarin, a community leader in Shuwarin town, Kiyawa Local Government area emphasised the importance of the project for the region’s development.
According to Alhaji Mikaila, “the railway project is a game-changer for our community. It will connect us to other parts of the country and facilitate trade. We hope that the government will complete the project in good time,” he said.
For Mallam Adamu Aminu, a farmer in Andaza village, Kiyawa Local Government, he highlighted the potential benefits of the project for farmers like himself, saying,
“With the railway, we will be able to transport our farm produce to other markets easily. It will also reduce the cost of transportation. We are hopeful that the project will improve our livelihoods,” Aminu emphasised.
However, our correspondent’s attempts to speak with officials and engineers at the project site at the Jigawa border were unsuccessful, as they declined to comment, saying they didn’t have the company’s approval and authorisation to speak on official matters.
In spite of that, when pressed further, a field worker who begged for anonymity later confirmed to Arewa PUNCH in confidence at the project site on Friday that the work had stopped for some time but resumed upper week.
“We’re working on clearing the way for the rail line and erecting bridges. Our equipment is busy bringing sand, equipment, and materials to the site before we start installing the main railline,” he said.
