China Development Bank has approved a $254.76 million loan to support the construction of a railway linking the northern Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna.
The announcement comes ahead of a visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is set to meet with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and senior officials later this week.
The Kaduna-to-Kano rail project, which has faced delays due to funding issues, is projected to cost $973 million. The loan will help ensure the continued development of the 203-kilometre (126-mile) standard-gauge railway.
Once completed, the rail line will offer direct connectivity between Kano and Abuja, providing residents with a safer, more efficient, and convenient transportation option.
The project was initially backed by China’s Exim Bank in 2020, but the bank withdrew its financing before China Development Bank stepped in.
The Kano-Kaduna railway project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and is being constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
It is also expected to ease the movement of people and goods in a region, where road travellers face attacks from armed gangs who kidnap for ransom.
China is among Nigeria’s largest bilateral lenders, providing loans for roads, rail and power stations.
