The Kaduna State Government has concluded arrangements to begin construction of Northern Nigeria’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, with a formal groundbreaking scheduled for June 2026, marking a major leap in the region’s urban transport infrastructure.
The BRT project will feature a dedicated 24-kilometre transit corridor running from Kawo Bridge to Sabon Tasha, designed to move up to 160,000 passengers daily. Officials say the system will significantly cut travel time, improve commuter efficiency and ease persistent traffic congestion across Kaduna metropolis.
Brandspur Politics reports that Governor Uba Sani has earmarked ₦30 billion in the state’s 2025 budget as counterpart funding to support the project. This funding complements a €110 million financing package provided by the French Development Agency, Kaduna’s key international development partner on the initiative.
The transport system will deploy 120 modern buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas, aligning with Kaduna State’s clean energy and climate transition objectives. Plans also include 30 purpose-built stations equipped with off-board ticketing systems and platform-level boarding to improve safety, speed and accessibility.
State authorities estimate that the BRT project will generate over 3,200 direct jobs for drivers, technicians and operational staff, while creating an additional 11,000 indirect employment opportunities across ICT services, logistics and security.
Environmental projections indicate that the introduction of high-capacity public transport will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 38 per cent, reinforcing Kaduna’s push toward sustainable urban development.
The BRT network is being designed to integrate seamlessly with the proposed Kaduna Light Rail Transit system, for which the Federal Government has approved significant infrastructure funding, including a dedicated allocation in the 2025 budget.
With design work nearing completion and procurement expected to conclude in May, the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA) says construction will commence as planned in June 2026, with full system operations projected to begin in 2028.
When completed, the Kaduna BRT will become Nigeria’s second such system after Lagos, positioning the state as a transportation model for northern cities seeking modern, efficient and environmentally responsible mass transit solutions.
