Abuja Rail Network to Connect Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina

The Federal Government has announced plans to extend rail services from Abuja to five major cities in northern Nigeria: Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina, in what officials describe as a major step toward strengthening regional connectivity, boosting trade and creating new employment opportunities.

The announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunsho Adebiyi, during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in Zaria, Kaduna State. Addressing graduating students, Adebiyi said the expanding railway system would open fresh career opportunities in operations, engineering, logistics and transport management.

According to him, passengers will be able to travel by rail from Abuja through Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina once the extension becomes operational, significantly improving mobility across Nigeria’s northern corridor. The project is expected to serve both passenger and freight services, reducing pressure on highways while supporting commercial activity between the Federal Capital Territory and key northern economic hubs.

The planned expansion builds on Nigeria’s existing Abuja–Kaduna standard-gauge railway, which has become one of the country’s busiest rail routes since it began operations. The line has provided commuters with a safer alternative to road travel, particularly along a corridor that has faced recurring security challenges in recent years.

The extension also aligns with the Federal Government’s broader railway modernization programme, which includes the Kaduna–Kano standard-gauge project and the Kano–Maradi railway linking northern Nigeria with neighbouring Niger Republic. Officials say these interconnected projects are designed to improve regional trade, support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and reposition rail as a backbone of Nigeria’s transport economy.

Beyond infrastructure, Adebiyi urged graduates of the transport institute to acquire specialized technical skills that would enable them to participate in the growing railway industry. He noted that investment in rail development would require a new generation of professionals in signalling, maintenance, logistics, safety management and digital transport systems.

The announcement comes as the Tinubu administration continues to priorities rail expansion alongside urban transit projects, including the revitalization of the Abuja light rail and ongoing investments in standard-gauge corridors across the country. While the government has outlined ambitious timelines for several projects, delivery will ultimately depend on sustained funding, construction progress and operational readiness.

If completed as planned, the Abuja-to-five-cities rail connection could reshape mobility across northern Nigeria, making rail travel a more reliable alternative for millions of passengers while strengthening commerce between agricultural, industrial and commercial centres. It also represents another significant step in Nigeria’s long-term ambition to build an integrated national railway network capable of driving economic growth beyond the road transport system.