Kano-Maradi railway line is a 393km single-track standard gauge line being developed between Kano in northern Nigeria and Maradi in southern Niger.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Transportation is developing the project with an estimated investment of approximately $1.96bn.
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The Federal Executive Council of Nigeria approved the project in September 2020. The ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place in February 2021.
The new railway line is expected to be completed by 2025. It will transport 9,300 passengers and 3,000 tonnes (t) of freight daily between Kano and Maradi.
Kano-Maradi railway line details
The Kano-Maradi railway line will link three Nigerian federal states – Kano, Jigawa and Katsina, and connect to Maradi in Niger. It includes a 108km branch line linking Kano and Dutse in Nigeria.
The 1,435mm standard gauge line is designed for passenger express trains operating at a maximum speed of 160km/h and passenger local trains operating at a maximum speed of 120km/h. It can also handle heavy freight trains with an axle load of 22.5t operating at a maximum speed of 80km/h and freight trains operating at a maximum speed of 100km/h.
The project includes the construction of 13 stations along the rail corridor, with major stations in Kano, Kastina, Kazaure, Daura, Jibiya and Dutse.
Route details
The railway line will traverse territories inhabited by more than 80 million people and span ten states. It starts in Nigeria, beginning from Kano and passing through towns including Dawanau, Kunya, Dambatta, Kazaure and Durbe before finally reaching Maradi in Niger.
Construction details
The project includes the construction of 80 overhead bridges, 34 railway bridges, nine underpasses and 74 culverts, which also encompass box culverts. A typical railway bridge will have a total width of 6.5m, including a 5m wide single rail track and two-side walkways.
Ancillary buildings to support rail operations such as locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, washing stations, coach servicing areas, refuelling points, freight yards and integrated maintenance centres will also be constructed.
The project involves the development of permanent maintenance roads to assist railway operations, along with temporary works such as site preparation, earthworks, construction of tracks, establishment of construction camps and temporary access routes.
Track details
The track design will adhere to European Rail Standards (Eurocodes) and will be built using specified layers of ballast, precast concrete sleepers and track.
The track bed layers will consist of ballast and sub-ballast, with ballast made from crushed granular material. Sleepers will be supported by a minimum ballast thickness of 0.25m.
Pre-stressed concrete sleepers measuring 2.6m x 0.3m will be installed at 60cm intervals along the main line. For crossing tracks, sidings with heavy traffic and station tracks, a sleeper spacing of 66.6cm will be used, while other station tracks will have a sleeper spacing of 70cm.
Contractors involved
The Federal Ministry of Transportation signed a memorandum of understanding with Mota-Engil Engenharia E Construcao Africa (MEECA), a construction company, in January 2021 for the construction of the Kano-Maradi standard gauge railway line.
MEECA is responsible for designing and constructing a single-track standard gauge rail line, including associated stations between Kano and Maradi and a branch line between Kano and Dutse under an engineering, procurement and construction contract. Their work also involves track, signalling and communication systems, depot and station construction, and rolling stock facilities.
The China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), an engineering and construction company based in China, is responsible for carrying out the earthworks for the project.
Consultancy company Team Group conducted a feasibility study for the project to assess technical, economic and financial viability, and also provided the preliminary design of the railway line. It also produced an outline business case document in line with Nigerian national policy and public-private partnership regulations, and provided services for the environmental impact assessment.
Sifax Group, a port and cargo handling service, is handling the cargo for the project.
Environmental Resources Management (ERM), a specialist sustainability consultancy, and EnvAccord, an environmental services provider, conducted an independent environmental and social due diligence assessment.
GardaWorld Security, a leading private security firm, is responsible for project security, while CEFO Logistics, a security and premium logistics company, is facilitating community engagement.
Allott Nigeria, a technical consulting practice based in Nigeria, is also involved in the project.
Project benefits
The project is expected to stimulate agricultural and manufacturing development along the route, improve economic and trade relations between Nigeria and neighbouring countries, and ease logistical challenges in landlocked Niger.
It is expected to play a crucial role in promoting regional economic and trade growth and supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The railway line will also facilitate the import and export of goods for Niger and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian Ports, generating revenue for Nigeria and offering affordable transportation costs for Niger’s trade activities.
