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Tag: Governor Sani

  • Governor Sani sacks information commissioner, appoints KSMC boss

    Governor Sani sacks information commissioner, appoints KSMC boss

    Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has relieved Professor Muhammad Sani Bello of his duties as Commissioner for Information and appointed Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, the current Managing Director of the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), as his replacement.

    The change was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa, who said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    While no official reason was given for Bello’s removal, the statement noted his earlier role as the pioneer Commissioner for Education in the present administration before his redeployment to the Ministry of Information.

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    Governor Sani thanked the outgoing commissioner for his contributions and wished him well in his future pursuits.

    He expressed confidence in Maiyaki’s ability to drive the state’s communication strategy in line with its development agenda.

    Maiyaki, a seasoned journalist and communication expert, is expected to enhance citizen engagement, strengthen media relations, and promote government transparency across the state.

  • Governor Sani has transformed Kaduna health sector with major upgrades, says commissioner 

    Governor Sani has transformed Kaduna health sector with major upgrades, says commissioner 

    Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has overhauled the state’s health sector in the last 22 months, focusing on infrastructural development, facility upgrades, and equipping both primary and secondary healthcare centers.

    This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, during a ministerial press briefing held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. 

    She noted that the governor’s interventions are already yielding positive results across the state.

    Ahmad also revealed that the 300-bed Specialist Hospital, inherited from past administrations, is now set for commissioning and will soon begin offering specialised medical services to Nigerians.

    According to her, Kaduna State achieved 100% coverage of Public Health facilities in the distribution of medicines last year, a feat that was confirmed by Federal Ministry of Health.

    ‘’Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency has received 10 prestigious awards, including the coveted award for Excellence In Supply Chain, which was presented by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance,’’ she disclosed.

    Hajiya Umma also said that the National Product Supply Chain (NPSC) had ranked Kaduna State as one of the first sub nationals ‘’to reach the Maturing Ready To Integrate Level for public health supply chains for essential medicines, demonstrating its preparedness for an efficient State Health Supply Systems(SHSS).’’

    The Commissioner further said that Kaduna State won the Leadership Challenge award for the North West zone in 2024, which is testament to Governor Uba Sani’s positive interventions in the health sector.

    Hajiya Umma disclosed that the 255 PHCs in Kaduna State are being upgraded to Level 2 ‘’for basic emergency obstetrics and neonatal care to prevent maternity and neo-natal mortality and morbidity.’’

    “Thirteen Secondary Health Care facilities out of the 33 General Hospitals are being rehabilitated and equipped. Contract has been awarded for the reconstruction, remodelling and equipping of additional health facilities at the Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun Wada,’’ she added.

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    According to the Commissioner, Governor Uba Sani has ‘’renovated and equipped the warehouse of Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency(KADHSMA) to a Pharma-grade standard, which has 1,600 sqm with storage capacity of 8,000 cubic metres of pharmaceutical products, with a well equipped quality control laboratory.’’

    She further said that Kaduna State Government has ‘’procured and distributed over 975 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) for Public Health facilities in the State, distributed state-of-the-art equipment to 290 PHC centres to aid diagnostic and therapeutic services.’

    The Commissioner recalled that Governor Uba Sani had ‘’flagged-off the distribution of free, essential medicines to all Local Government Councils, targeting the under-served communities, with a view to expanding access to commodities and health care.’’

    Hajiya Umma also promised that the 300-bed Specialist Hospital will provide specialised care nationwide and has the potential of stemming medical tourism when completed.

    She pledged that the hospital will soon be commissioned because all civil works have already been fully completed while 85% of the equipment have been installed.

    The Commissioner commended Governor Uba Sani for improved health financing as his administration ‘’increased enrolment rate for health insurance from 527,303 in 2023 to 639,432 in 2024, equivalent to a 21.3% increase.

    ‘’Furthermore, the Governor approved the enrolment of 70,000 vulnerable population into the Social Health insurance scheme under the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA).

    ‘’In addition, he released N52,000,000 as 25% counterpart contribution for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) programme for the enrolment of additional 4,333 vulnerable persons,’’ she disclosed.

    According to Hajiya Umma, Kaduna State Government has ‘’sustained the allocation of not less than 15% of the state financing to the health sector as prescribed by the Abuja declaration, a feat that is yet to be achieved at the federal level.’’

    The Commissioner also reiterated that Governor Uba Sani has approved the recruitment of 1, 800 health workers yearly across all the PHCs in the state, for the next four years.

  • Governor Sani builds 600 classrooms, expands education access in Kaduna in 20 months

    Governor Sani builds 600 classrooms, expands education access in Kaduna in 20 months

    Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has constructed more than 600 new classrooms within the first 20 months of his administration, significantly improving access to basic education. Additionally, 62 new secondary schools have been established under the AGILE project.

    At the quarterly ministerial press briefing in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, highlighted that Governor Sani’s policies have fostered an environment conducive to learning, resulting in positive strides in the education sector.

    He noted that the Governor’s initiatives align with his campaign promises, focusing on expanding educational infrastructure and enhancing the quality of education.

    Since assuming office, the administration has increased the number of schools and classrooms and improved the quality of education for both students and teachers.

    ‘’At the basic education level under SUBEB, more than 600 classrooms have been constructed since the beginning of this administration, and quite a number are being renovated, and the era of having students studying in an environment that is not conducive for learning has been averted,” he said.

    According to him, 62 new secondary schools have been built under the AGILE project, promising that 50 new ones will be constructed before the second anniversary of this administration.

    Professor Bello further disclosed that the six science secondary schools that the Islamic Development Bank funds are now up and running.

    ‘’That project started 16 years ago, but it was stalled and abandoned; it is this administration that completed the school, and more than 2,000 students have been enrolled in those schools which are pure science schools,’’ he recalled.

    He argued that the policies of the present administration have manifested in good learning outcomes, as attested to by the results of national examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO,, and NABTEB.

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    Professor Bello disclosed that the percentage of students who passed with five credits in those examinations before the coming of this administration was 54%, adding that the rate is now 67%

    The Commissioner further recalled that Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to education was evident in his first Executive Order, which reduced tuition fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions by 40%.

    According to him, reducing school fees increased student enrollment at Kaduna State University (KASU), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, and the College of Education GidanWaya.

    ‘’Before this administration’s arrival, many students had to leave tertiary institutions in Kaduna State for tertiary institutions in neighbouring states. Some completely left school all because of the fee regime that the last administration imposed,’’ he added.

    Prof Bello also disclosed that Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions have introduced new courses that have passed through the Resource verification of regulatory agencies.

    According to him, KASU courses were verified by the National University Commission (NUC), while those of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic were accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), adding that the National Commission of Colleges of Education accredited the courses of the College of Education Gidan Waya. 

    The Commissioner also revealed that the Uba Sani administration is committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children by building more schools to expand access.

    According to him, the Kaduna State initiative is the first of its kind and it is being supported by five Development Partners, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Above All (EAA), Save the Children International (SCI), and UNICEF.

    The Commissioner further said that the Bureau of Statistics has mapped out Kaduna State and identified communities where there are no   schools, adding that  ‘’under that project, we are going to have 102 new schools, and over 200 existing schools will be renovated.’’

    Professor Bello said that the project aims to ensure that no child treks more than one kilometre to get access to a school.

    He further said that the Special School for Gifted Children at Millennium City is 90% complete and the ‘’Tsangaya Bilingual Schools Project has been significantly expanded with UBEC-IsDB support.”

  • Panteka market: Governor Sani sets the pace again

    Panteka market: Governor Sani sets the pace again

    By Tanko Ahmed

    Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has never left anyone in doubt that he has come to make an unprecedented difference in the governance of the state. A tested and impeccable leader, Governor Sani is a politician that has always meant well for his people. This he has brought to bear in his leadership style ever since he assumed office a year ago. At all times and in all situations he leads by example.

    Many people may wonder what is at stake in Kaduna at the moment. On 13th May, just a few days ago, Governor Sani surprised everyone including his closest critics when he performed the groundbreaking official foundation laying ceremony for the famous Old Panteka Market Development Association in the state. The OPMDA project is indeed the joint initiative of the state government with the traders and business men and women who constitute the OPMDA.

    At the official ceremony which the Governor considered the major breakthrough by his government to curtail poverty in the state, and create more avenues for financial growth for artisans, the governor said, “Today, before this enthusiastic and cheering mammoth crowd of key stakeholders, members of the Old Panteka Market Development Association (OPMDA), government officials and Kaduna citizens, I performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of remodeled Panteka Market which is a joint initiative of Kaduna State government and OPMDA”. As it was expected the crowd could not help but to applaud him.

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    It is interesting that with this take-off ceremony, the government has pledged to make the new market place like a communal settlement where all modern amenities and facilities will be provided. The governor, in his usual affable, humanistic gesture and tenacity of purpose has included in the master plan of this place, modern clinics and hospitals, fire stations, outdoor public toilets, all infused with modern facilities. He also plans to provide incinerators, two transformers meant to make electricity handy. In addition, the new market will boast of well-equipped security post and personnel, including places of worship and ICT centres

    All these are signs of a man who has vowed to ensure that peace and progress reign supreme in his domain. Kaduna State is noted to be the centre of commerce and civilization in the north and it will now begin to attract attention to itself once more. This is so because having been in public glare for so long and having been a populist leader, Senator Uba Sani has eyes for the best for his people. Already tagged the working and performing governor, people have begun to sense the magnitude of his expansive and progressive programmes intended to touch lives and make the desired change and impact in the state.

    Located within the precincts of Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis, when completed the market will serve as a major beacon for skills acquisition. It will not only create thousands of new jobs, the citizens will equally key into it to learn new areas of job creation and generation. Since skills acquisition predominates the employment market especially in developed worlds today, what the governor has done will be a huge and futuristic investment for all and sundry. The concept does not only benefit Kaduna people. It goes far afield to the surrounding states. For instance, Adamu Sunday, from Nasarawa State applauds this innovative project. According to him, “Let Governor Sani take the bull by the horns. We need purposeful and pragmatic leaders in the north. And this is one of those people-oriented programmes that we have always yearned for”.

    When the market becomes the largest technology hub in the north, obviously lots of jobless youths will immediately key in to be useful in many ways. Hawkers will be employed. Artisans will find something to do. Carpenters and vulcanizers and mechanics will find workshops to ply their trades. So also doctors and nurses will be engaged. At the same time, Kaduna State government will employ teachers and more fire fighters and local vigilante to keep the place and ensure no lives will be lost.

    It is an intriguing and fascinating arrangement because Kaduna people will once more gather their esteem and momentum as the leading state in the north. All along, Kaduna has been a pacesetter in all areas of political and economic and social lives of the people. By ensuring the completion of this project, more traders and even idle youths will have every reason to abandon idleness and be fully enterprising. A man, who is engaged with something lucrative, has no time for crime or mischief. Thus, the economic revival and the renewal of the state will be better assured, appraised and appreciated.

    Now, by acknowledging the roles played by some prominent people like Professor Idris Bugajie of the National Board of Technical Education and others, the governor shows that this project has the overall consent and imprint of the people both in high and low cadres of the society. This goes with one proverb that says ‘if you know that good thing is not good, then let your wife bear a toad for you as a child’. See, now this can be a contrast with the good meant to smoothen the psyche of the people.  Kaduna State is on the move again. That is why it is said that good soup is made possible with money. When a governor knows that the resources available to him are for the good of all, this is the sort of giant project that he executes.

    Also with the training of artisans by the centre which will issue them certificates on graduation, it will be easier to move on ahead into the wider world. This is one reason kudos should go to the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for consenting to be a part of this noble and innovative idea to modernize Kaduna State.

    •Ahmed sent in the peace from Zaria