The $2 billion rail line project from Kano to Maradi in the Niger Republic was granted by the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and completion is anticipated in 2025.

The Minister of Transport, Senator Saidu Ahmad Alkali, expressed his pleasure with the pace of the work on Friday during an inspection of the project, which started in Dawanau, Kano, and is intended to stretch to the Niger Republic.

He said, “The project’s earthwork has been completed to an 80 percent level, and the actual rail line work will start shortly after the earthworks.”

“I’m impressed with what we have seen as we came all the way from Dawanau, where the project started,” the minister continued. The contractors are adhering to the given task criteria, according to information we personally gathered on the project execution level.

Regarding if the contractor will complete the project by the deadline given, the minister said that because the primary work has been finished, there is a good chance they would.

Alkali also expressed praise for the contractor’s efforts, noting that earthwork and bush clearance from Dawanau in Kano to the Daura region were completed flawlessly, and the job was moving along without any major problems.

The Minister mentioned that the contractor should be willing to make some sacrifices to support the country’s development under the leadership of the Tinubu-led administration when asked if the project’s initial cost would be readjusted to account for the current high cost of production.

Vladislav Bystrenko, the prime contractor, explained that the contract’s value was $1.95 billion and that the parties had agreed to its terms with the Federal Government around 2021. In order to cut a sizeable percentage of the project, he said, they started working on important duties including planning, land surveying, and monitoring of the full contract area even before funds were handed to them.

Vladislav Bystrenko reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to finishing the project by the targeted deadline of 2025.