China Development Bank has approved a $254.76 million loan to Nigeria to support the construction of the railway linking Kano and Kaduna, two major northern states. This funding comes ahead of a scheduled visit by China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to Nigeria this week.

As part of his annual New Year tour of Africa, Wang Yi is set to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday. He will meet with President Bola Tinubu and senior government officials on Thursday, according to Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry.

The 203-kilometre (126-mile) standard-gauge railway project, expected to cost $973 million, has faced delays due to funding challenges. However, China Development Bank stated that this loan would ensure smoother progress toward its completion.

“Once completed, it will provide direct rail connectivity between Kano, an important northern city in Nigeria, and the country’s capital, Abuja, offering local residents a safe, efficient, and convenient mode of transportation,” the bank said in a statement.

Initially, Nigeria’s parliament had approved financing for the project through China’s Exim Bank in 2020, but the bank later withdrew. Now, the Kano-Kaduna railway project, which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is being constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Beyond improving transportation, the railway is expected to enhance security and economic activity in the region, where road travel has become increasingly dangerous due to frequent attacks by armed gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom.

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