Country
Nigeria
Sector
Transport & Logistics
Intelligence Type
Capital
Status / Stage
Announced
Estimated Value
USD million 254.8
Confidence
Reported
Latest Development
China Development Bank agreed a loan of approximately $254.8m specifically for the Kaduna–Kano main line, part of the wider Kaduna–Kano–Maradi railway programme, of which Nigeria has funded roughly 85% through concessional loans from China Exim Bank, IFC and AfDB, with government covering the remaining ~15% domestically.
Capital Details
Capital TypeLoan
Investor / FinancierChina Development Bank (CDB)
Recipient / BorrowerFederal Government of Nigeria / Nigerian Railway Corporation
Purpose of CapitalKaduna–Kano main line construction (part of the wider Kaduna–Kano–Maradi rail programme)
Financing StructureGovernment-to-government concessional loan; the broader rail programme is also backed by China Exim Bank, IFC and AfDB financing, with Nigeria contributing roughly 15% domestically
Market Significance
Confirms continued Chinese development-finance appetite for Nigerian rail after a multi-year construction run; the blended concessional structure (~85% external, ~15% domestic) is a template increasingly used across Nigeria's rail portfolio.
Commercial Opportunity Intelligence
Commercial ReadinessVery Early
Source & Verification Trail
Last VerifiedAugust 2026
Source(s)International Railway Journal; Pravda Nigeria (3 May 2026)
Source Date2026