The Federal Government said the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano standard gauge railway project is 90 per cent complete.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation Engr. Funso Adebiyi disclosed this during an inspection tour of the project.
Adebiyi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work described the rail alignment embankment protection drainage stone-pitching and soil stabilisation works as excellent.
He said: ‘I want to confess that the quality of work is second to none. The rail alignment apparently is excellent. When you look through the window you see a sharp elevation change some as high as six metres which tells you the volume of earthwork that is done. The embankment protection work is also great.’
Adebiyi explained that elevation differences of up to six metres or more along some sections underscore the need for proper soil stabilisation compaction and embankment protection to ensure the railway’s safety and durability.
He however identified outstanding land acquisition and compensation claims within Kaduna metropolis as the major obstacle delaying completion of the remaining link between Jaji and the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.
He assured affected stakeholders that the government is addressing the issue and that it will receive immediate attention.
Adebiyi while stating that President Bola Tinubu is committed to completing the project expressed optimism that passengers would soon travel uninterruptedly by train from Abuja through Kaduna and Zaria to Kano.
Providing further details Adebiyi said the inspected section covered approximately 145 kilometres of the broader 200-kilometre Kaduna-Kano route with only about 10 kilometres of work remaining on the stretch.
He also said the railway sections from Kano through Kazaure and Daura to Katsina are targeted for completion by December with work continuing around the clock to meet the deadline.
The Director Rail Transport Services in the Ministry Engr. Habiba Buhari said the inspection was intended to assess the technical quality of the infrastructure ahead of finalisation and test runs.
She also said that the team examined track geometry alignment drainage facilities concrete works and other components relevant to passengers’ safety and comfort.
‘We are here to check the geometry the alignment drainage facilities and quality of concrete works which we have been doing. We just want to finalise and test-run’ she said.
Engr. Buhari added that the exercise also gave them an opportunity to engage stakeholders as the project neared completion.