The Kaduna State government has announced plans to launch a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the first quarter of 2027. The project aims to provide a structured and efficient public transportation system, generating between 10,000 to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The system will also lower commuting costs and support cleaner urban transportation. According to Inuwa Ibrahim, managing director of Kaduna Line and acting director-general of the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA), the state has completed the design and planning stages and is preparing to commence implementation.
The first phase of the BRT system will cover a 17-kilometre route, featuring 20 stations, a terminal at Kawo, and a depot. The project will also include dedicated bus lanes and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) designed to improve journey times, security, and service delivery. The system will operate 120 articulated buses, creating employment opportunities across various sectors, including driving, vehicle maintenance, engineering, and terminal operations.
The buses will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is expected to lower operating costs and reduce emissions compared to conventional fossil-fuel-powered public transport. Ibrahim stated that the use of CNG will make the transportation system "greener" and "cheaper." The project coordinator, Aliyu Usman, said the scheme is designed to improve public transport efficiency and move Kaduna's urban transport system from predominantly informal operations towards a more structured network.
The BRT system will incorporate dedicated lanes, allowing buses to move more efficiently through congested areas and potentially reduce journey times for commuters. Usman also stated that fares will be subsidised relative to prevailing informal transport rates, although officials did not disclose the proposed fare structure. The system will also include an Intelligent Transport System intended to strengthen operational monitoring, passenger security, and service delivery.
Construction of the BRT system is expected to take about 18 months under favourable weather conditions. Financing for the project has been arranged through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), with counterpart funding from the Kaduna State Government covering taxes and compensation-related obligations. The BRT forms part of KADSTRA's wider effort to formalise and reorganise public transportation in Kaduna through structured routes and terminals.
The project coordinator for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Supervision (EPCS), Idris Lawal Akiremi, stated that the infrastructure design for the first phase had been completed. The 17-kilometre phase will comprise 20 stations, the Kawo terminal, and a depot. Akiremi added that detailed design work was expected to be completed by the end of October, followed by about six months of procurement before full construction.
The Kaduna BRT is expected to have a significant impact on commuters and the wider urban economy. Akiremi stated that the project "will have a huge impact, especially on the masses, and by extension, to everybody." If the current implementation schedule is maintained, the Kaduna BRT would add a structured mass-transit system to the state's urban transport network, with economic activity spanning construction, bus operations, maintenance, engineering, and terminal management.
Key points
- The Kaduna BRT system is expected to generate 20,000 jobs and provide affordable transportation.
- The system will operate 120 articulated buses running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
- Construction of the BRT system is expected to take about 18 months.
