₦airaland Forum

The $1.96bn Kano-Katsina-Jigawa-Maradi rail project is still ongoing despite the recent tensions between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

Arewa PUNCH reports that 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.

Another worker, who also does not want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak to the press over the issue, nonetheless disclosed that the project, which was initially handled by the “Water Engine” Company, is now being executed by the Chinese Communication Construction Company.

The source told Arewa PUNCH “As you can see, the jackets, reflectors, helmets we’re wearing, all of them carry the name of the main company ‘Water Engine’,” the anonymous worker met at the site disclosed.

When asked about the location of the main rail station for the Dutse rail line in Jigawa State, the source clarified, “there were conflicting reports as some officials mentioned that other it would be located in Shuwarin town, while others said it would be located in Andaza town, according to the contract map.”

After several attempts to reach the Jigawa State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Works, for his comment on the project, our correspondent’s efforts in that regard were in vain as he could not be reached.

However, a secretary at the Jigawa State Coordinator’s office confirmed that the coordinator was out of office for some official engagements but that the work on the railway project had indeed resumed.

“The coordinator is out of the office today (Friday), he’s currently out of the state for Abuja for an official business related to the office,” the secretary confirmed to our correspondent over the phone.

EmperorCaesar:
More like an interregional railway within NW. I know Kano is just beside Jigawa but still, FG dey work abeg

Umahi tho. Na workaholic be this man o


Project everywhere since Jan1

God Bless PBAT

mrvitalis:
Billion a 2 billion dollars rail with borrowed money to a country with GDP of less than 15 trillion Lmaooo

Tomorrow they wonder why GDP is nose diving

Before 2027 Nigeria GDP would get below 150 billion dollars

mrvitalis:
Billion a 2 billion dollars rail with borrowed money to a country with GDP of less than 15 trillion Lmaooo

Tomorrow they wonder why GDP is nose diving

Before 2027 Nigeria GDP would get below 150 billion dollars

EmperorCaesar:
More like an interregional railway within NW. I know Kano is just beside Jigawa but still, FG dey work abeg

Umahi tho. Na workaholic be this man o


Project everywhere since Jan1

God Bless PBAT

LegendHero:
How exactly will completing the rail reduce Nigeria GDP? Do you just talk without thinking most time?

TimeManager:
Clowns everywhere. Maradi opens up trading in the Sahel regions, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso could import and export goods in and out of Nigeria. It also strengthens African continental free tade agreement, so how does infrastructure that would enhance trading reduces GDP , all these under bridge analysts, funny dudes.


-Kiss the truth!

mrvitalis:
Let me break it down to your level

1) Niger GDP is too small so trade volume would he so small there is no economic justification for that project

2) so that means the project cant pay for itself and therefore would be paid repaid through forex income this would weaken the naira

3) weakened naira directly reduces our GDP

Hope that's clear enough

mrvitalis:
There is already a trading export channels through TOGO and Benin so at best you get 30% of trade export ( which I doubt after how your president killed Econwas)

Niger export is around 1 billion dollars per year according to world Bank... 30% is 333 million dollars

Say they pay us 5% .. That's 17.5million dollars for 365 days at best ...

Let's say forget energy and running cost . .. It would take us 142 years to break even from this project based on its cost ... When you capture the loan interest we would never be able to break even

So how that make senses to you APC people is beyond me

helinues:
Very good

The rate at which Nigeria is changing heh, we can only hope for more of this good news

mrvitalis:
Let me break it down to your level

1) Niger GDP is too small so trade volume would he so small there is no economic justification for that project

2) so that means the project cant pay for itself and therefore would be paid repaid through forex income this would weaken the naira

3) weakened naira directly reduces our GDP

Hope that's clear enough

Canpeakmilk:
Gosh!

What a waste of a child

helinues:
How about the movement of goods and services across that lane.. the route is from Ghana- Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad.

The economic benefits alone on that worth spending billions on the project

Ojuntana:
They are simply being intentionally stupid in a bid to defend anything APC
Even a secondary school student knows that project is wasteful

mrvitalis:
There is already a trading export channels through TOGO and Benin so at best you get 30% of trade export ( which I doubt after how your president killed Econwas)

Niger export is around 1 billion dollars per year according to world Bank... 30% is 333 million dollars

Say they pay us 5% .. That's 17.5million dollars for 365 days at best ...

Let's say forget energy and running cost . .. It would take us 142 years to break even from this project based on its cost ... When you capture the loan interest we would never be able to break even

So how that make senses to you APC people is beyond me

PressMyButton:
I totally agree with TimeManager, you're an under bridge analyst, you just scribble whatever junks that comes of your head. There's a trading channel in Benin republic and that channel is free to Nigeria republic?. If you don't know something, better to shut up than making a fool of yourself.

Ojuntana:
Besides, the rail IF completed will be competing with rail connecting Cotonou port with Niger which is much shorter route to the coast with less insecurity.
Also, Niger presently uses the Benin port as they are both francophone which means ease of doing business in terms of language and common currency
That rail is a big waste

mrvitalis:
Is it that you don't know how to read or you just trying specially today to be stu.pid?

So Benin would abandon their already designed trade Chanel with Benin to a toll free port in Benin to use your way longer route?

I calculated nigeria gets 30% of trade volume and you are here saying rubbish

PressMyButton:
This forum is full of ignoramuses.. Are you aware that there's a trade disputes between Benin and Niger?, Benin is blocking Niger from using their port and placing embargoes on them?. You're not aware but celebrating ignorance here.

PressMyButton:
Are you high on weed?. Is this train meant for Benin in the first place?, and if they choose to use it to transport goods, what's your own headache?

LegendHero:
How exactly will completing the rail reduce Nigeria GDP? Do you just talk without thinking most time?