Premium News
The Federal Government has announced approval for a ₦1 trillion Metropolitan Rail Service in Kano State, described as a major step to modernize urban transport, ease severe traffic congestion, and spur economic activity across the metropolis.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf revealed the development on January 28, 2026, while addressing Kano State participants from the 2025 National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Borno State.
In a statement issued by his Director General of Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor framed the project as a modern, efficient, and affordable mass transit system linking key districts.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and committed the state to close collaboration with federal agencies for transparent execution and optimal benefits for residents.
The announcement ties the rail initiative to Kano’s recent political realignment, with Yusuf noting that the move toward closer ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) aimed to unlock vital infrastructure for the state.
However, critics quickly labeled the announcement as a repackaged version of an earlier commitment rather than a fresh breakthrough.
Social media users and commentators pointed out that a similar light rail project for Kano metropolis received public mention as far back as August 2025.
At that time, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, disclosed plans for a ₦1.5 trillion ($1 billion equivalent) light rail network across the city, presented as part of broader northern infrastructure efforts.
Prominent Kano voice @dawisu highlighted the discrepancy on X, stating the project had been approved months earlier with no visible updates, construction start, or progress reported since.
Replies to the post echoed skepticism, describing the renewed promotion as propaganda timed to political shifts, including the governor’s alignment with the APC.
Some accused authorities of recycling old approvals to create the impression of new rewards for political loyalty, while questioning why no groundwork—such as site preparation, contractor mobilization, or detailed engineering—had materialized in the intervening period.
The Kano Metropolitan Rail proposal joins a longer list of rail ambitions in the region.
Kano Railway
Related federal efforts include ongoing work on the Kaduna-Kano standard gauge line and the Kano-Maradi rail corridor, both inherited from prior administrations and cited as advancing under the current government.
Yet public discourse frequently contrasts northern project timelines and funding visibility with high-profile allocations elsewhere, fueling debates over equitable infrastructure distribution.
As of January 29, 2026, no official clarification has addressed the overlap between the 2025 announcement and the current ₦1 trillion framing, nor has a revised timeline, funding release schedule, or construction commencement date been detailed.
