The China Development Bank (CDB) has approved a $254.76 million (€245 million) loan to support the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria.
The announcement, made via the bank’s website on Tuesday, signals a significant step toward ensuring the seamless continuation of the project.
The 203-kilometer standard-gauge railway will connect Kano, a major commercial hub in northern Nigeria, to Abuja, the nation’s capital. Once operational, the railway is expected to provide safer and more efficient transport, improve regional connectivity, and drive economic growth by fostering industrial development along its corridor.
The project, listed under the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, is being executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and financed by the CDB. The bank highlighted ongoing progress in construction and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Nigerian government to ensure timely disbursement of funds and efficient project management.
This financing comes after the China Exim Bank withdrew as the project’s original funder, prompting Nigeria to partner with the CDB. President Bola Tinubu has pledged that the broader Ibadan-Abuja-Kano railway network will be completed to satisfaction.
The Federal Government has allocated N44.4 billion this year for railway projects, including the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Lagos-Ibadan railway, and other critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, is set to visit Abuja on Wednesday. Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, will engage in talks aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and China.
