he Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5% VAT.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, announced this on Wednesday after the 16th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The proposed rail line from Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic is going to cover a track length of 248 kilometres and will pass through seven senatorial districts in the North.

According to information gathered from the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Abuja, the rail line, which was budgeted for in the 2018 Appropriation Bill, will connect at least seven cities in Nigeria and one city in Niger Republic.

The rail line, which will start from Kano, is to pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.

It will connect at least three states in the North, which are Jigawa, Kano and Katsina.

It was also learnt that the rail line, when completed, would assist in the supply of crude oil from Niger Republic to the refinery being built in the border town between both countries.

The border town is close to Katsina State and a mutual agreement for the construction of the refinery was reached between Nigeria and Niger Republic last week.

Amaechi, while addressing State House reporters, said another memo approved by FEC for the Ministry of Transportation was on the award of contract for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of one railway crane of 150 ton capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

The minister, who said the contract was meant “to sort out situations of accident on the track”, added that it was awarded for a total cost of N3,049,544,000, Daily Trust reports.