The China Development Bank has approved a $254.76 million loan to Nigeria to support the completion of the 203-kilometer Kano-Kaduna standard-gauge railway project.
The announcement comes ahead of the visit by China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to Nigeria as part of his annual New Year tour of Africa. According to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday and meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior government officials on Thursday.
The Kano-Kaduna railway project, which connects Kano, a key northern hub, to the capital city, Abuja, has faced delays due to funding challenges. The total cost of the project is estimated at $973 million.
China Development Bank, in a statement on its website, highlighted that the newly approved loan would ensure smooth progress in the railway’s construction.
Once completed, the railway is expected to offer safe, efficient, and convenient transportation, significantly benefiting local communities.
The project, a critical component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is being executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
