FG completes 135 northern roads, backs Kaduna-Kano light rail — Minister
The Federal Government says it has completed 135 road projects across northern Nigeria as part of a broader infrastructure renewal drive, while unveiling plans to support light rail projects in Kaduna and Kano States to enhance public transportation and economic development in the region.
Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, made the disclosures during a two-day interactive session organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, which held in Kaduna from July 30, 2025.
According to him, an additional 216 road construction projects are currently ongoing across northern states, while 312 road maintenance projects have been completed and 50 others are in progress.
He noted that several strategic infrastructure projects are underway nationwide, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Calabar–Abuja Superhighway, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the government has completed 14 road projects, a Greater Abuja Water Supply Network Project, the rehabilitation of various schools, and commissioned three world-class bus terminals.
Highlighting efforts to boost mass transit, Alkali said the Federal Government is supporting the Kaduna and Kano light rail initiatives through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). He added that these transport initiatives are in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve connectivity and inclusive economic growth.
On housing, the Minister said 3,112 units have been completed in Abuja under the Renewed Hope Cities (RHC) Project, alongside 1,500 units and a 500-unit estate in Kano. Similar 250-unit estates have been completed in Sokoto, Gombe, Yobe, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Benue states, while others are underway in the remaining states.
The nationwide housing projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs, with workers earning an average monthly salary of ₦150,000. The initiative will also stimulate the development of local building material hubs and attract over ₦70 billion in private sector investments.
In rail development, Alkali announced that the standard gauge Kaduna–Kano railway modernisation project has reached 53% completion, while work on the Kano–Maradi railway stands at 61%. He added that, a 61-kilometre stretch of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line has been completed and is already in use.
