The federal government has stated that the completion of Kaduna-Kano-Maradi rail line will secures Kano's position as the economic hub of Northern Nigeria.

Speaking during a tour organised by the Presidential media team to North West, the Project Desk Officer of the Ministry of Transport, Engr. Abdullahi Adamu Yakubu, said Kano will have a major station on the line to receive goods coming from Lagos and relieve pressure on road networks across the country.

He noted that the Kano station will be an international hub that will accommodate 1,000 capacity passengers and will link the state to Maradi in Niger Republic.

"The project will connect that of Abuja to Kaduna. It will go to Kano, then link to Jigawa, to Kaduna, Katsina and down to Maradi," he said.

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He added that 68 percent of the 203km line from Kaduna to Kano has been completed while 63 percent of the 296km from Kano to Maradi is done.

"Now, the economic advantage is that it has taken the load off the road and it is a very safe mode of transportation and it provides jobs. It can lift freight and at least it will increase the lifespan of the roads," Yakubu added.

On his part, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Information, Ahmed Maiyaki said the rail line is connecting a very important hub in terms of commerce and economic prosperity of not only northern Nigeria, but across the Niger Republic.

"This is one important project that will help not only strengthen business activities. Now, the station in Kano will connect to Dala Dry Inland Port, which means you can clear your goods from Lagos and transport your goods to Dala and clear it in Dala.

This will further increase the lifespan of our roads. Because one of the challenges of our roads and infrastructure is because you have heavy trucks going on those roads over and over again."