The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to completing the Kano-Maradi rail project on time despite the rising cost of construction materials.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmad Alkali, gave the assurance on Friday during an inspection of the project in Katsina State.
The minister said the project, which was awarded at $2 billion, is currently 80% complete.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of work being done and said he is confident that the contractor will meet the deadline of 2025.
Alkali also said the government is not considering increasing the project’s budget, even though construction materials cost has increased. He said the contractor would have to sacrifice to help the government save money.
The lead contractor, Vladislav Bystrenko, said the project is very important to the government and that they are committed to completing it on time.
He said they have already started work on the project, even before receiving payment from the government.
Bystrenko said further that the government is very serious about the project and is providing all the necessary support to ensure its success.
The Kano-Maradi rail project is a 400-kilometer standard gauge railway line that will connect Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic. The project is expected to boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
