Construction specialist Mota-Engil has been awarded a US $920.05mn contract to provide and finance railway rolling stock in Nigeria.
The contract is said to be a significant part of a larger rail project valued at $2bn that aims to connect Nigeria with Niger. The 284km railway track will run between Kano, the capital of the northern state of Kano, and Maradi, the second largest city in Niger, and the centre of the country’s developing oil industry. It will also run east from Kano to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
The contract win is said to strengthen Mota-Engil’s presence in Africa and contributes to its order book in the region.
In a statement, Mota-Engil said the contract underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and promoting economic development in the northern part of the country. It also highlights the capacity of the Mota-Engil Group to support these development efforts in Africa.
In addition to this railway project, Mota-Engil along with two Chinese organisations were previously shortlisted by the Lagos state government in Nigeria for a $2.5bn bridge project in November.
The rail construction initiative is said to be part of the government’s broader plan to build an extensive railway network across Nigeria. This is in response to a longstanding issue of inadequate transport infrastructure that has hindered economic growth.
