By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria | June 2025. In a powerful show of sustained partnership and developmental commitment, the China Development Bank (CDB) has disbursed $254.76 million to fast-track the completion of the Kano/Kaduna standard-gauge railway, a major infrastructure priority for Nigeria’s northern economic corridor.
The announcement comes at a pivotal time as Nigeria ramps up its infrastructure revival agenda, and highlights China’s long-standing support in shaping Nigeria’s transport, industrial, and connectivity goals.
A Rail Line of Strategic Importance
First launched under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and now reaffirmed under President Bola Tinubu, the 203-kilometre Kano–Kaduna rail is a segment of the larger Lagos/Kano standard-gauge rail project, designed to transform trade and passenger mobility from Nigeria’s southern ports to the northern commercial hub of Kano.
The rail project, being executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is a key flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in West Africa and a model of Sino/African cooperation.
Funding Breakthrough After Delays
Despite initial setbacks due to financing constraints, this $255 million release signals renewed momentum. The project had previously stalled, with concerns growing over timelines and contractor demobilization.
Now, with funds secured, construction is expected to resume full steam, unlocking job opportunities, trade acceleration, and safer alternatives to highway travel plagued by insecurity.
“The release of funds by China Development Bank underscores China’s unflinching support for Nigeria’s infrastructure drive and mutual prosperity,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Transportation.
🇨🇳 Strategic China/Nigeria Collaboration
China remains Nigeria’s largest bilateral infrastructure financier, supporting over 30 key national projects including:
The Abuja–Kaduna Railway (completed),
The Lagos–Ibadan Railway (completed),
The Lekki Deep Seaport (operational),
And the ongoing Abuja–Metro Light Rail expansion.
These projects not only bridge gaps in logistics and development but reinforce China’s strategic and soft power influence across Africa’s most populous nation.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, has consistently emphasized “win–win cooperation”, aligning with Nigeria’s developmental targets under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“China’s commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructure future remains unwavering. The Kano–Kaduna rail project is a symbol of how friendship, trust, and partnership can move nations forward,” Ambassador Cui noted in a past interview.
Looking Ahead: Diplomacy, Media, and Mutual Benefit
As diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China continue to deepen celebrating 53 years of bilateral ties in 2025 this renewed rail investment provides an ideal case study of productive South–South cooperation.
As both countries look to expand people-to-people exchanges through education, tourism, media, and cultural diplomacy, Nigerian media professionals and journalists can play a critical role in narrating this developmental journey.
Editor’s Note:
This report is part of a special media series highlighting the evolving partnership between China and Nigeria. The author seeks to explore further stories across provinces in China, showcasing shared lessons in infrastructure, industrialization, and technological innovation.
