Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has continued to show responsible, compassionate, and visionary leadership since taking over the reins of affairs in the north western state. His philosophy of prioritising the welfare, security, and happiness of the people continues to resonate across the state and across all sectors.
And it was amply demonstrated yet again on the eve of the celebration of the 31 anniversary of June 12, now christened Democracy Day.
Indeed, there is hardly a better way of keeping the spirit of June 12 alive than through the demonstration of compassion, love, care, and philanthropy to all and sundry. It is therefore heart-warming that as part of the joint commemoration of June 12 and 25 years of democracy as a form of government in Nigeria, Governor Uba Sani pardoned 110 inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service Custodial Centre in Kaduna.
This happened during a visit to the Correctional Centre in Kaduna, in the company of fiery pro-democracy and human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and other senior government officials, on Tuesday, 11th June 2024. But the people’s governor did not just stop there. He additionally made available to the released inmates a token of N30,000 each for transportation.
Now you get the picture of the kind of governor and leader Senator Uba Sani is. To those who merited the prerogative of mercy, he did not withhold it from them.
After the door of freedom was flung open, he made provision for their comfort in transiting from point A to B. For those too young to know, 31 years ago today, Nigerians trooped out enmasse on an election day to participate in what has been historically referred to as the freest and fairest of all elections ever conducted in Nigeria. It has also been described as a political watershed.
Expectedly, the date has come to occupy a special day of immense significance in Nigeria’s political history. Governor Uba Sani, who about two weeks ago marked his one year in office, has demonstrated sublime leadership qualities in the last one year.
Both in moments of crisis and periods of stability, as a true leader, Governor Uba Sani has shown courage, give hope, and spread empathy where necessary. For instance, his swift response to the unfortunate incident of Tudun Biri has validated the claim that his competence and capacity as a true leader during challenging times is unparalleled.
Mr Sani’s immediate and decisive action following the incidents in Tudun Biri reflects his commitment to the welfare of the affected families and the community at large. Sani swiftly stepped in, providing a ray of hope to those affected.
His prompt response demonstrates his ability to prioritize the well-being of the people he governs.
On December 2, many residents of Tudun Biri in Igabi LGA of Kaduna were killed in an “accidental airstrike” said to be targeted at terrorists. The villagers were reportedly commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad when an Air force jet dropped a bomb that led to the deaths of many people, which according to multiple reports put the death toll at over 120 while scores were left badly injured. Speaking on the incident, Sani commended the unity exhibited by the people of Kaduna in bringing succour to the survivors and families of the deceased. In his words: “The promises made by the federal government, national assembly, Nigeria Governors Forum, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians are being gradually fulfilled. “We shall effectively monitor the execution of the intervention programmes for the Tudun Biri community.” While on the one hand, he was busy trying to find succour for the victim, he was on the other hand initiating a comprehensive investigation into the incident. That act could only have been a pointer to one thing: dedication to ensuring justice is served. By taking that step, he did not only show his commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the tragedy but also ensuring that adequate compensations were paid.
This intentional act of prioritising the support and request for compensation for the victims of such a collateral mistake, provides a viable lifeline to the affected families, helping them to rebuild their lives and recover from the tragedy.
Furthermore, his commitment to rebuilding the community also attests to his open-mindedness of not discriminating between North or South Kaduna, Muslims or Christians, or rich and poor.
For him, everyone is equal and deserving of the government’s attention. Governor Uba Sani’s level of religious tolerance has been the talk of town for some time now. For the traumatised people of Southern Kaduna, though not yet uhuru in terms of religious discrimination and violence, Governor Uba Sani’s disposition and body language has brought considerable turnaround in perception and mutual suspicion that have generally pervaded the state before his coming to power.
Governor Uba Sani’s efforts at promoting and ensuring interreligious tolerance and harmony as a springboard for peace and harmony and development in Kaduna State dates back to his sojourn as a Senator of the Federal Republic.
And his approach has been well known – unending interactive sessions rather than mere rhetoric.
And this may be partly because of his pro-democracy activism than anything else. It is also exactly in the spirit of that democracy and freedom that many walked free in Kaduna on Tuesday. Governor Uba Sani’s business unusual style has brought one thing to the fore – that is his determination to do the needful by his administration to continue to frontally tackle the challenges of insecurity and widespread poverty in the state. He was quoted to have once told a gathering that: “We are having problems.
That is why I told you that there is a poverty crisis in the rural areas; 80 percent of our people there are living below the poverty line.
That is the fact of the matter”. Uba Sani may be in the running for the Governor of the year if he continues on this trajectory of putting the people far above selfish and whimsical interest, a rarity among his peers.
May 29th, President Bola Ahmed Tinibu and other elected political leaders, celebrated their one year in office. Not unexpectedly, they rolled out their achievements in the many bridges, roads, hospitals, schools, etcetera, they were able to build as evidence that they are working. But as the good Bishop Matthew Kukah argued many years ago, the real dividend of democracy is in the intangible. He said “The best structures in Germany were built by Adolf Hitler; the best structures in Nigeria were built by the Military; the best structures in Egypt were built by slaves; the best structures in South Africa were built under apartheid. Yet, despite these physical structures, people were still not happy and yearned for a change. Why? Because they were not free.” “Freedom”, he argued, is at the heart of democracy.” And freedom, to my mind, is an intangible value. Other intangibles may include, peace, security, unity, etcetera.
This is why it should not be presumed that we cannot have dictators because we are in a democracy. Ofcourse the controversial Bishop has clued us into what he called “illiberal democrats”. These, according to him, are elected political leaders who as Presidents, Governors, Senators Chairmen, etcetera, have built the best roads, hospitals, schools, and other physical structures in their Countries or States, yet, their citizens are not free. Despite their so-called achievements, they see themselves first as leaders of their faith, ethnic or regional constituencies contrary to the expectation that, like the former President Muhammadu Buhari, they should belong to everybody; and to nobody.
I have decided in the event of this anniversary to focus on His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for obvious reasons. As a student of Nigeria, particularly religion and politics, I was not unaware of the peculiar task before him. That is, the most difficult task of reuniting a state divided along all the fault lines especially religion. And this is not just about the famous leaked video aimed at inciting Christians against him. Long before then, Kaduna State had been the epitome of that suspicion and animosity in the whole of Nigeria. But the leaked video was the height of it; when a good State executive, on the eve of his handing over, attested to his apartheid- like policies while promising continuity by his successor.
Yet, this is a state densely ensmeshed in religious suspicion and tension. The famous homily by Bishop Matthew Kukah at the funeral of Governor Patrick Yakowa on December 20, 2012, is a testament to this. In the homily, he said “…the Northern ruling class, by policy, seemed to have an invisible sign that read: No Christians Need Apply to enter what would later be called Kashim Ibrahim House or represent the state at the highest levels.” He denounced “This policy of exclusion against non-muslims turned Kaduna State into a political Mecca…” It was this homily that produced the spark that lit up the fire of a debate about Christian- Muslim relations in particularly Kaduna State by Mohammed Haruna, Adamu Adamu, Abubakar Gimba, Steven Nkom, Sylva Ngu, and yours sincerely among others. A state that has experienced an unmasked animosity against the APC by religious and sociocultural groups. Infact, at a time, it was a crime to be associated with the APC. During elections, those suspected to have voted for the APC were identified and followed to their houses for demonization . It is this difficult state, and in that difficult and controversial circumstance that Senator Uba Sani took an oath to govern it in 2023.
To my mind, whatever indices may be used to measure the Governor’s achievement in office, his real achievement is in the intangible – the task of reuniting the state in the circumstance of the “we versus them” syndrome- Christians versus Muslims, Southern versus Northern Kaduna, before and across the bridge. Given the circumstances then, we all had thought it was an impossible task. But he is doing the magic – and the people have seen through his sincerity and commitment.
Apart from his visitations to churches during Christmas, particularly during the carols, the former military governor of Rivers state, Gen. Zamani Lekwot said to me “Francis, we now have a leader. The governor has been in constant touch with us the elders both from the Southern and Northern parts of the state. We are working together on how to move the state forward.”
Only few days back, Governor Sani did something that shocked everyone in Southern Kaduna and beyond. He led a delegation from Kaduna State to attend the inauguration of Mrs Abigail Marshall Katung as the Lord Mayor of Leeds. Katung is the first elected African in the Council of Leeds and the first black Lord Mayor of Leeds.
She is wife to Distinguished Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, the PDP senator representing southern Kaduna. When His Lordship sent me photos and videos clips of the Governor rejoicing with them at the event, I immediately knew the message that he wanted me to take home.
Even though Senator Katung is from Kaduna State, he is not of the same political party or religion with Governor Sani. He is indeed a political adversary whose value should not warrant such prompt and sincere concern. To paraphrase Malam Adamu Adamu, If somebody so high up could remember, care for and take trouble for the sake of somebody whom he expects no profit – not even political mileage – and whose abandonment would occassion him no loss- and who infact is his political adversary – then you immediately know that this is a great human being with a large heart who values absolutes, unity and friendship.
Ofcourse, it is needless to say that the attitude, activities and programs of the Governor have endeared him to all divides as a personable and trustworthy fellow, and it will be right to say that it is the PR required to change the present inflammable and bile circumstance of the state. By so doing, His Excellency will not only be reuniting the state, but at the same time, building a baptistery through which many will be initiated into the APC in 2027.
Though, under your watch, the Kaduna -Abuja road is now a safe haven, bandits in our communities had also gone on vacation. Yet, as you mark your one year in office, while we ask you to do more on securing your state, the minor minorities like the Kamanton and Ikulu people pray that you remember them in your many projects. In Ikulu for instance, apart from the schools we have, the only sign of government presence is the road constructed under the then governor Ahmed Makarfi. Not only that it is now dilapidated and unmotorable, erosion is about to slice it off.
Finally Your Excellency, here’s wishing you good health, more wisdom and strength as you work towards rebuilding Kaduna State in the next seven years. And may through this bridge, the unity and love we once shared, be reactivated.
•Damina wrote from Kaduna and can be reached via francisdamina@gmail.com
The atmosphere was very convivial even when the interactions were frank, deep and very elevated. It was the inaugural meeting of the North – West Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) hosted and chaired by the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, in his capacity as the Coordinating Governor of the North-west zone, reputedly the political hotbed of the country.
The very strategic meeting was attended by key political leaders and decision makers in northern Nigeria, notably; the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Umar Ganduje; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, governors of states in the North-west of the country, ministers, former governors, presidential aides, National and state Assembly members, several other party stakeholders drawn from the North-west zone. The meeting, which held at the Yar’Adua Conference Hall of the iconic Murtala Square, Kaduna, took a critical look at the state of the party in the North-west, activated its internal dispute resolution mechanism to resolve pending issues, and charted the pathway to a more formidable zonal structure that will ensure victory for the APC in future elections.
Even more important, this crucial meeting afforded political leaders and stakeholders of the ruling APC in the North-west, the opportunity to introspect about the first one year of the APC administration under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Upon robust deliberations, the northern political leaders commended the president for tackling Nigeria’s numerous challenges “with courage and uncommon commitment”. The leaders at the meeting resolved to continue to support President Tinubu’s administration to address current and emerging challenges. The position of the North-west leaders was contained in a communique issued on Sunday, May 19, and read by the host, Governor Uba Sani.
The communique said in part: “In view of Mr. President’s undiluted support and assistance to the North-west, stakeholders called for continued support for President Tinubu’s administration as he strives to steady the ship of the Nigerian state; the meeting commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to the fulfilment of his campaign promises to the Nigerian people; the meeting noted the decisive steps so far taken by the president in tackling Nigeria’s multitude of security and developmental challenges, and the far-reaching reforms he has initiated to reflate the economy and combat soaring inflation; the meeting observed that Mr. President’s Development Agenda has positively impacted the North-west zone, especially in the areas of human capital development, agriculture, education, poverty alleviation, and infrastructural development.”
Governor Sani was in April this year, inaugurated by the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Ganduje, as the Coordinating Governor of the North-west. According to the party Chairman, Gov. Sani’s duties largely entail: the coordination of the governors of the North-west to always identify with, and participate more in the activities of the party; to initiate periodic interface between the governors of the North-west zone and the leadership of the party; liaise with the party on prompt processes for genuine reconciliation of aggrieved party members in the North-west zone; mobilize governors of the North-west zone to effectively and physically participate in party activities within and outside the zone; consult with governors of the North-west zone on issues that will further enhance the progress and unity of the party within the zone; and assist the party on Resource Mobilization within the North-west zone.
In an era of positive disruptions, Senator Sani is rapidly earning his strips as a master of the game in the nation’s political ecosystem. Beyond the strong political undertone of the North-west stakeholders’ meeting, it was not lost on most discerning persons at the gathering that Kaduna State under the leadership Sani has, in just one year, fully regained its place as the leading light of northern Nigeria in practically all facets. In fact, Kaduna is back!
Kaduna was once revered, even deified as the all-powerful capital of northern Nigeria; home to northern political, military, religious and business leaders whose words were unwritten codes by which Nigeria was governed. Kaduna was prodigious and was intensely coveted by all persons of northern extraction. But over time, Kaduna’s power, allure and claim to the leadership of northern Nigeria ebbed considerably due to several factors. Most notable and far-reaching being the speedy rise of ‘neighbouring’ Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria; recurring ethno-religious crises in the state; the decline of the local economy which led to the erosion of the middle class and the rise in the number of the urban poor; and of course, the outright shutting out of rural communities from the mainstream of governance and administration by successive state governments leading to the congestion of the urban centres, especially Kaduna city and Zaria.
Infrastructures in Kaduna city became overstretched and began decaying. In their hundreds, thousands of out-of-school children began roaming the streets of the city, becoming prime targets for mischievous persons who easily lured them into such ant-social vices as robbery, banditry and other forms of criminality. Insecurity completely robbed the once prosperous state of its shine. Kaduna urgently needed help.
Senator Sani assumed office on May 29, 2023 as the governor of the state, very conscious of the challenges and boldly assured the citizens that he was poised to fix Kaduna and restore the dignity and honour of the state as the power house of northern Nigeria. In the last one year, Senator Sani who has a firm grasp of the issues, has tenaciously been walking the talk.
From the onset, Governor Sani was determined to deploy indelible and sustainable solutions to mitigate and eventually curb the hydra-headed problem of insecurity in the state. His preferred option turned out to be a deft combination of kinetic and non-kinetic solutions to stem a seemingly intractable problem. “What are the factors that have bred insecurity and banditry in Kaduna and other states in the North-west? Hopelessness, lack of education and lack of economic prosperity. Over 85 per cent of the people in the North-west are either not educated or are financially excluded,” Senator Sani said a few weeks after he was sworn in as governor. “No matter how much we talk and try to bring about peace, safety and security, if we don’t look at the area of good governance, we will never put to an end to the problem of insecurity in Northern Nigeria in particular,” the governor posited. “In the North-west, there is so much poverty; and if we don’t address the poverty by opening up our rural areas, supporting our farmers and increasing productivity, we will not address the problem of insecurity,” he added.
The governor lamented the huge number of out-of-school children in the North-western parts of the country, especially in Kaduna State. “In Kaduna State, we have over 600,000 out-of-school children. This is unacceptable and we, in fact, view the situation as a ticking time bomb.”
With his job clearly cut out for him, Governor Sani went to work pretty quickly and the results of his efforts became instantly evident: Following an enhanced collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and the leadership of the nation’s Armed and Security Forces, the Kaduna – Abuja express way, once notorious for the nefarious activities of bandits and kidnappers, received a deserved respite and travellers, in their numbers, are now plying the road regularly without fear or anxiety. The rail service between Abuja and Kaduna, which was momentarily halted after a heinous attack that led to the abduction of several passengers, resumed in earnest. Even more important, previously traumatized farmers began returning to their abandoned farms.
Senator Sani was the first state governor, among his contemporaries, to visit and personally take his internal security masterplan to the NSA, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of Army, Naval and Air staff respectively. The governor’s concerted efforts did not go to waste as the leadership of the Armed Forces saw reasons with him and accepted to set up more Forward Operation Bases in Kaduna State.
In the same regard, Governor Sani, got traditional, community and religious leaders across the local government areas of the state involved in tackling security issues. At regular security meetings with these leaders, Governor Sani kept all stakeholders properly informed about the direction of his government and what the leadership of the nation’s Armed Forces and other security agencies required of them. The governor, being a keen listener, customarily used the opportunity of the security meetings to take contributions from the traditional and community leaders on how best their communities can be secured. These meetings are paying off handsomely as security has now truly become ‘everyone’s business’ in Kaduna State.
Beyond the huge logistics support for the Armed Forces, the police and other security agencies, Governor Sani has since rejuvenated the Kaduna State’s Vigilante Service (KADVS). He beefed up the Service with 7,000 able-bodied persons who were trained by the Nigeria Police Force and he has also procured assorted security assets for the rebooted Service. The screening and recruitment of personnel into the KADVS were done in collaboration with critical stakeholders, notably local government chairmen, traditional and religious leaders. Other than complementing the efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, Governor Sani said he was additionally motivated to recalibrate KADVS to become a job provider for a number of the teeming population of able-bodied young adults in the state. More like killing two birds with a stone.
To enhance the much-needed funding for the several security initiatives his administration is undertaking, Governor Sani signed into law, the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund Bill that empowers the administration to set up a Trust Fund to provide financial support to the efforts being made towards degrading incidences of banditry, abductions and other criminal activities. The new law repealed Kaduna State’s Security Trust Fund Law No. 22, of 2018. This law setting up the Trust Fund made adequate provision for the private sector to play a prominent role in the management of the Fund in collaboration with critical stakeholders in the security sector.
Governor Sani is a staunch believer in the decentralization of policing in Nigeria. The governor’s long-running advocacy to alter Nigeria’s constitution to enable states to establish and run their respective police force or service, as is the case in most developing and developed countries of the world, is well documented. It is on record that as a vibrant lawmaker in the nation’s 9th Senate, Senator Sani sponsored series of bills seeking the alteration of the constitution to accommodate State Police and State Police Service Commissions. Indeed, these bills scaled the requisite hurdles in the Senate and were referred to the 9th National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendment. Their enactments into law suffered mainly due to the apparent lack of national consensus or political will at the time, to have the 36 states of the federation establish their respective police outfits. Governor Sani remains at the forefront of renewed quest to have states own and run their police force or service.
However, Governor Sani’s dogged resolve to radically degrade insecurity in Kaduna State was tested, albeit most dastardly, by daredevil bandits who on March 7, 2024, abducted a number of school children from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga community, in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
For the 16 days that the children were in captivity, Governor Sani, with the full and ceaseless support of President Tinubu, worked very closely with the highest levels of the nation’s military, police and other security agencies to rescue and safely return the abducted persons to their respective homes.
“In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I wish to announce that our Kuriga school children have been released. Our special appreciation goes to our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for prioritising the safety and security of Nigerians and, particularly, ensuring that the abducted Kuriga school children are released unharmed,” a relieved Governor Sani announced in the early hours of Sunday 24th of March and added that the 137 abducted Kuriga school children were released unharmed. The jubilation in Kaduna and across Nigeri, was rapturous. Good triumphed over evil. The people’s hope in government, especially in President Tinubu and Governor Sani as well as the nation’s security forces were rekindled, once again.
Interestingly, the unfortunate abduction incident at the Kuriga community school sparked off an infrastructural revolution of sorts in Kaduna State. The incident afforded Governor Sani a fuller view of the dilapidated state of most of the public schools in Kaduna State and he instantly launched a massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of schools across the 23 local government areas of the state. With his sights also set on drastically reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state, Governor Sani’s first year in office has seen a focused allocation of resources towards a series of strategic actions in the education and human capacity building sectors. These actions include: the construction of over 2,326 new classrooms – providing space for over 98,040 pupils; provision of over 30,742 two-seater desks, accommodating 61,484 pupils, to promote learning in a comfortable and respectful environment; installation of hygienic toilets and hand pumps for clean drinking water in schools; renovation of 707 classrooms; distribution of over 34,000 pieces of furniture for both pupils and teachers and the reduction of tuition fees across all state-operated higher education institutions. Similarly, Governor Sani’s administration has in the last one year established a number of schools of basic education across the state. He has also approved the establishment of another campus (annex) of the Kaduna State College of Education Gidan Waya in Hunkuyi, Kudan LGA to expand access to tertiary education.
To safeguard the schools from the nefarious incursions of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements, the Kaduna State Government has designed and is currently implementing a unique Safe School Programme aimed at strengthening safety and security in primary and secondary schools across the state, through collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force. Critical components of the Programme include the massive fencing of public schools; merging of schools deemed to be prone to the activities of bandits with much safer schools; establishment of Security and Safety Response Committees with membership drawn from schools and communities; Deployment of Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) to schools; Provision of emergency line to schools; Security Awareness Training for School Managers, teaching and non-teaching staff and School Based Management Committee members; Construction of Muster Points in schools; training on identification of Early Warning Signs and the construction of Watch Towers in schools.
Equally noteworthy is the fact that under Governor Sani, the Kaduna State Government is partnering with Google to train 5,000 women and girls in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and entrepreneurial application of digital technologies in efforts to promote digital inclusion and leverage technology for economic growth. Even then, the governor has approved the release of N205 million for merit and need-based scholarship disbursement to university students.
Governor Sani’s administration is primed to bring sustainable development to every nook and cranny of Kaduna State. He has however prioritized the opening-up of rural and underserved areas of the state. “The central policy thrust of our administration is rural transformation. We are committed to revitalizing our rural economies through massive infrastructural development,” Governor Uba Sani said.
Pursuant to this goal, in September 2023, Governor Sani flagged off the 21.7-kilometre road, linking Anchau and Gadas-Palla Road in Kubau and Ikara Local Governments. The road was conceptualized and designed to address the transportation challenges of 32 communities. A month later, the governor flagged off the construction of a 10.2-kilometre feeder road, stretching from Dan Makwarwa to Hunkuyi. Late last year, in December to be precise, Governor Sani flagged off roads, drainages and culvert construction across the eight local governments in Southern Kaduna. The projects are spread across Jaba, Zangon Kataf, Kagarko, Sanga, Kaura, Kauru, Kachia and Jema’a Local Governments.
Similarly, on December 31, 2023, Senator Sani performed another groundbreaking event, for an 18-kilometre road construction, linking Sanga Local Government to Jemaá Area Council. The road, from Gwantu, through Kiban, is projected to provide forward and backward linkages to farmers and markets, and reduce post-harvest losses, cost of transportation and travel time. The governor also flagged of a 35-kilometre road from Gadan Gayan, through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, linking Igabi and Chikun local governments, in Kaduna Central senatorial districts.
Indeed, the governor is deploying massive road network to interconnect the state. A good example of such huge investment is the 327 kilometres road linking College Road to Mashigi, stretching down to the Eastern Bypass. The road is designed to cut across Igabi, Kaduna North and Chikun Local Government Areas. The governor flagged off the construction of this road on the 16th of March. Over 827 kilometres of roads are currently under construction in the state.
“We are ramping up our Infrastructural Development Drive. Our Rural Transformation Programme is being executed concurrently with upgrade of infrastructure in the urban areas. The new investments flowing into Kaduna State are being supported by infrastructure upgrades. We are determined to make Kaduna State a safe and secure business hub in the North and a choice destination for investors. We are putting Kaduna State on a sure path towards actualizing its God-given potentials,” Governor Sani said.
Speaking of inflow of investments, Governor Sani has exceedingly excelled on this score. An example is the proactive collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and the Kuwait Fund. The Fund is currently supporting Kaduna State with $28 million to return several out-of-school children back to school.
Also, under the aegis of the Qatar Sanabil Project, Qatar Charity has also commenced the construction of 500,000 housing units for less privileged residents of Kaduna State. The Mega Economic City project was officially inaugurated by Governor Sani and Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, in Kaduna in August 2023.
Essentially, the project aims to improve the living conditions of underprivileged families in the state. Aside from the construction of the housing units, Qatar Charity is undertaking an array of interventions and empowerment programmes for the less privileged across Kaduna State. These programmes, many of which have commenced, include scholarships for orphans and children of the poor, distribution of sewing machines, welding machines, irrigation pumping machines, salon kits, and drilling of hundreds of boreholes across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
Beyond the very strong ties between Kaduna State and the humanitarian organization, Qatar Charity, during a two-day visit to Qatar alongside President Tinubu in March this year, Governor Sani secured firm commitments from a number of industrial and business concerns to invest in Kaduna. Most remarkable of the lot is the world-famous Qatar’s CGK Global, a waste management company, which agreed and indeed announced its resolve to establish a state-of-the-art hydrogen plant in Kaduna State, with a total investment of $350 million.
The governor stressed the importance of the trip: “We held fruitful meetings with investors in the areas of solid minerals, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development. CGK Global, a waste management company with capacity to generate hydrogen and electricity, wants to set up a plant in Kaduna with the possible injection of $350 million,” Sani said and added that Abu Dhabi-based companies — Masdar and Taqa — have also shown interests in partnering with Kaduna State for power and gas infrastructure.
Governor Sani’s sustained efforts at attracting investments has also been bearing fruits in the mining sector with the completion of a gigantic new Lithium Processing Plant in Kaduna, a partnership between the Kaduna State Government and Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nigeria Ltd. The facility has initial capacity of 1500 metric tonnes per day. The completed processing plant is Phase 1 of the project. The capacity of the plant will be doubled in the Phase 2 of the project.
On Monday, May 13, 2024, Governor Sani performed the groundbreaking for the construction of the $50 million Soya Bean Oil Refining Plant by Sunagrow International Oil Ltd at Kutungare, Igabi LG of Kaduna State. When completed, the $50m Soya Bean Oil Refining Plant will have a production capacity of 500,000 litres per day.
The Kaduna State Governor has equally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hebei Province of the People’s Republic of China for exchanges and cooperation in various forms in the fields of economy, trade, solid minerals, science and technology, energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure to promote common prosperity and development. According to the governor while inviting investors to the state, “there is a steadfast guarantee that your investments in Kaduna State will be nurtured by a robust policy framework and unwavering support”.
For the first time in a long while, farmers in Kaduna State are gearing up for bountiful harvests this year. Aside the fact that the state government in conjunction with security agencies are making it safer for them to return to their farms, Governor Sani’s administration has been distributing farm inputs and agro-processing machines to thousands of beneficiaries across the state under the Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) scheme. The beneficiaries received quality seeds, bags of NPK and urea fertilizers, agrochemicals, power tillers, vegetable grinders, and knapsack sprayers with PPE.
Following the efforts of Governor Sani in advocating for support for farmers affected by the Ginger Blight disease outbreak in the Southern parts of Kaduna, President Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to allocate N1.6 billion to the affected farmers with the aim of minimizing future losses and maintaining the vital role ginger production plays in Nigeria’s food security and overall GDP contribution. The Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce Support Initiative was launched in Kaduna State. The initiative is aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s Ginger status and bringing massive economic prosperity not only to Kaduna State but Nigeria as a whole. The recovery component is being implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND).
But it is not just farmers that are smiling in Kaduna State under the leadership of Governor Sani. In their numbers, citizens and residents of the state benefitted from the two tranches of palliatives distribution in the state. In an audacious move that took many by surprise, Senator Sani on Monday, March 18, 2024, flagged off the distribution of the second batch of palliatives worth over N11.4 billion. The highest such intervention in one fell swoop, at least in recent times, by any state government in Nigeria.
Since assuming office, the governor has revved up health delivery, nudging up allocation of 15% of the state budget to healthcare. In the last one year, the administration has distributed assortment of state-of-the-art medical equipment to the 290 upgraded Primary Healthcare Centres across the state and operationalized ultra-modern Mobile Medical Trucks to provide integrated health services to remote and underserved communities.
The governor has also inaugurated a Women and Children Centre for vulnerable women and children to facilitate access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychosocial, and counselling support.
As Governor Sani rejuvenates Kaduna, it is not entirely surprising that in the last one year, he has enjoyed a very cordial working relationship with the state’s House of Assembly. So far, the governor has signed five bills passed by the House into law. These include: Development of Tech Enabled Startups & other related matters; The Repeal of Kaduna Investment and Promotion Agency (KADIPA) Law 2015 and the enactment of KADIPA Law 2023; Amendment of Fines and Penalties Provisions Law and Provision of Public Health & other related matters.
The governor of Kaduna State is one of the few governors in the country that enjoy very chummy relationship with the workforce in the state. The truth is that labour leaders in Kaduna State actually regard Senator Sani, who is a seasoned human rights and pro-democracy activist, as one of their own. They fondly call him ‘Comrade Governor’ and readily attest that he regularly consults and takes useful advice from them.
Governor Sani has in the last one year also enjoyed huge support from religious leaders in the state. The leadership of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have repeatedly confirmed this fact. For a state that was once notorious for divisive politics and ethno-religious crises, Kaduna State has since turned over a new leaf under Governor Sani. Though a devout Muslim, Senator Sani enjoys huge support and following from the large Christian population in the state. During Christmas festivities last year, Governor Sani received huge applause when he attended Kaduna Unity Christmas Carol organised by the Kaduna State chapter of the CAN. The event was held at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), English Service, Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna city.
Addressing the congregation, Governor Sani said that his government will develop every part of Kaduna State, without giving ethnic or religious consideration to siting of development projects. “One of the most important agenda of our government is to ensure that we carry our people along. Human capital development is the most important thing. I try to make it clear to the people of Kaduna State that we are not concerned with any religious or ethnic differences. We are one family and we are going to work together without segregation or discrimination,” Governor Sani told the congregation.
It must however be mentioned that Governor Sani has achieved this much in his first year in office in spite of the huge debt burden he inherited. The debt burden, though scorching and almost debilitating, is not slowing down Governor Sani’s avowed commitment to return Kaduna to winning ways. No wonder the governor signed the Kaduna Mutual Accountability Framework (KaMAF) between the Kaduna State Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Kaduna Mutual Accountability Framework (KaMAF) aims to improve coordination between the Donor Community and Kaduna State, and support the delivery of the Kaduna State Development Plan 2021 – 2025.
The chilling effects of demolition of homes, sack of workers and intimidation of petty traders, along with Almajiri schools’ proprietors and their students would not be forgotten by the people of Kaduna in a hurry. But a magic wand being wielded by the Kaduna’s current governor, Uba Sani has erased doom and heralding a new dawn. Rural folks are now all smiles as the new Kaduna State government has now demonstrated that they deserve a large chunk of infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. How did the governor bring back everyone to the peace and plenty of this era?
For decades, Kaduna State was plagued by a myriad of challenges that seemed insurmountable. From crippling poverty and unemployment to decrepit infrastructure and a struggling healthcare system, the state’s woes seemed to multiply with each passing year. The current governor’s predecessors have burdened the state with huge debt. Imagine the nearly $600million foreign debt and the over N8 billion local debts? How does a Governor Sani, who hopes to pursue an ambitious rural renewal policy operate?
How does he fulfil his campaign promises of massive infrastructure and economic empowerment? It is unmistakable that the citizens of Kaduna have never had it so rough, since 2015. Pensioners and other retirees were long forgotten: schools fees in higher institutions of learning in the state were all-time high and parents were grumbling. Small scale business owners had their shops demolished while they were out pursuing business, with no hope of any source new capital to start afresh. Add this to the growing hunger in the land and an unprecedented inflation; it was a hopeless situation requiring urgent institutional intervention.
Then came Uba Sani’s operation drive away poverty, popularly known as A Kori Talauci”. He gave pensioners and other retirees over N3billion; distributed foodstuff to the poor and underserved; pursued rural electrification and set up townships stadium among many other solutions. There was serious divide along ethnic and religious lines before he came on board, but it is today an open secret that Kaduna has been unprecedentedly united in ethno-religious terms.
Thankfully therefore, a quiet revolution has been taking place, spearheaded by Uba Sani’s visionary leadership. The pains of the past are fading fast, replaced by a new era of hope and transformation.
One of the most significant achievements of the Uba Sani administration has been its ability to tackle poverty and unemployment head-on. The Kaduna State Social Protection Programme has been a game-changer, providing vital support to vulnerable populations and empowering young people to build a brighter future. The Youth Empowerment Scheme has also been a huge success, equipping thousands of young people with the skills and resources they need to succeed.
But it’s not just about numbers; it’s about people’s lives being transformed. Like that of Aisha, a young mother who was struggling to make ends meet but now has a stable income and a chance to build a better life for her family. Or that of Musa, a talented young entrepreneur who was able to turn his passion into a thriving business thanks to the support of the Youth Empowerment Scheme.
The administration’s focus on education and healthcare has also yielded impressive results. Schools are being renovated, teachers are being trained, and students are receiving the resources they need to succeed. Healthcare facilities are being upgraded, and lifesaving programs like the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme are ensuring that everyone – regardless of income or social status – has access to quality medical care.
But what’s truly remarkable about Uba Sani’s leadership is his commitment to transparency and accountability. By opening up the state’s finances to public scrutiny and implementing robust anti-corruption measures, he is demonstrating that government can indeed be a force for good. The days of opaque and corrupt governance are behind us – the people Kaduna – replaced by a new era of openness and integrity. It took extraordinary courage for a governor to openly admit that the state’s treasury was in bad shape owing to the heavy debt hung on the state by his predecessor. But those familiar with his civil society background were aware that one day the governor would tell the masses the bitter truth. And history and posterity will remember him as the leader who did not hide the truth from his followers. This action has also taken care of the overloaded expectations that greeted his emergence as the new helmsman of Kaduna State.
It also encouraging that the indebtedness could not distract him from pursuing robust people-centric policies and programmes for Kaduna citizens. With a cabinet of experienced technocrats and influential politicians, it should not be difficult to see that he was all set to change the narratives with amazing speed. Agreed he is human and therefore not perfect, but Governor Sani is exemplifying the famous Hausa adage that “a good Friday begins with a promising Wednesday”.
The progress made under Uba Sani’s leadership is a testament to the power of people-centred governance. By prioritizing the needs of citizens and tackling the state’s most pressing challenges, this administration is creating a brighter future for generations to come. As Kaduna State continues to thrive under Governor Sani’s compassionate leadership, we can only hope that other states and the federal government will take note and follow suit.
In addition, the administration’s efforts to promote peace and security are paying off. Initiatives like the Kaduna State Peace and Security Programme are bringing together community leaders, security forces, and citizens to address conflicts and prevent violence. This collaborative approach is helping to build trust and foster a sense of community, making Kaduna State a safer and more harmonious place to live.
In conclusion, the pains of the past are fading fast in Kaduna State, replaced by a new era of hope and transformation. Governor Uba Sani’s visionary leadership and commitment to people-centred governance are the reasons why. As we look to the future, we can only imagine the great things that are yet to come for this beloved state and its people. With Uba Sani at the helm, Kaduna State is poised for greatness.
Kaduna State governor, Uba Sanni, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Chairman, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the President’s Senior Special Adviser on job creation and MSMEs, Temitola Emitola Adekunle Johnson, among others will be gracing this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) in Highbrow Kensington High Street, London on May 24.
The event which will be declared open by the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Cyprian Heen, will bring together hundreds of Diaspora business leaders, African, British, Commonwealth and other international investors and funders.
The founder of NDDIS, Prince Bimbo Roberts Folayan, in a statement announced a breakthrough in their discussions with philanthropic funders who will provide 100% funding on a forgivable loan/grant basis.
According to him, “I’ am particularly excited about this year’s summit because for the first time, we will be directly involved in screening home bound projects and will also help push projects that meet SDG goals to get grants.”
He noted that it’s the first time “we have been given this opportunity since we started attracting projects to Nigeria and Africa,” adding that the government is looking at various innovative ways of tackling the current unemployment situation in the country and that a high-powered panel will be set up at this year’s summit to address how the Diaspora can invest and create jobs in Nigeria and how the country can tackle unemployment and encourage entrepreneurship and MSMEs in the country.
Sir: Since his inauguration as the executive governor of Kaduna State on May, 29 2023, Governor Uba Sani has never hidden his desire and passion to develop education in the state. Evidence is the reduction or slashing of tuition fees of state’s tertiary institutions by 50% as witnessed last year.
The downward review of the fees aligns with his government’s commitment to offer palliatives to cushion the effect of general rising cost of living in the polity, especially in the wake of recent petroleum subsidy removal.
The governor continues to take all measures necessary to ensure access to free and qualitative education for every child in Kaduna State from primary to secondary school; expand access to higher education; enhance teachers’ welfare and teaching standards; improve school infrastructure; build ICT competence in students from basic education level; and intensify investments in technical and vocational education.
Governor Uba Sani did not stop at that. His sympathy for the less privileged has further manifested recently, where he directed the state university to allow students facing financial difficulties to sit for exams despite outstanding school fees for the 2023/2024 academic session. The university’s management, will later in a statement explain that the development was under the directive of Governor Uba Sani, to lessen the impact of current economic challenges on its student body. Governor Uba Sani’s giant strides in education within a period of less than a year are a testimony of his avowed determination and commitment to improve literacy rate in the state.
The trajectory of primary education in Kaduna State started during the last administration of Nasir El-rufai where thousands of primary school teachers considered incompetent or unqualified were sacked. However, the subsequent recruitment by the government failed to fill in the vacuum created by the massive retrenchment. I believe Governor Uba Sani is not unaware of the understaffing in the primary education. Some primary schools in the state are in desperate need of teachers. Disturbingly, one can find many schools with more population but insufficient teachers to cover up expected lessons. The governor should scale up massive recruitment to augment the shortages of manpower. If the twins problems of inadequate teachers and training of teaching personal are addressed, our struggling primary education will breathe a new life, emerge stronger and become a force to reckon with.
Kaduna state governor, Uba Sani, has said the activities of bandits, kidnappers, and other non-state actors have disrupted socio-economic activities in affected communities and are threatening the educational revitalization program in the state.
He stated this in his address at the Capacity Building Programme organised by the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad held in Kaduna.
According to him, the State’s educational system is facing a crisis of declining enrolment, with over 200,000 fewer primary school pupils recorded in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year. This dramatic drop (from 2,111,969 in 2021/2022 to 1,734,704 in 2022/2023) is largely attributed to insecurity.
Gov Sani added that in several Local Government Areas (LGAs) particularly Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi insecurity has forced school consolidation, further pushing up the number of out-of-school children.
According to the governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Sani Liman Kila, “Incidents like the kidnapping of 135 students from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government tragically illustrates the devastating impact of insecurity on education access and safety.”
He however said to ensure that the education of children in conflict-prone and terrorist-infested areas is not interrupted, his administration has commenced the merging of 359 schools with those in safe locations.
He disclosed that the government is also implementing a SAFE SCHOOL PROGRAM to strengthen security in primary and secondary schools.
“We are collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force which is currently training a Schools Protection Squad (SPS). We have made adequate budgetary provisions for the effective implementation of our Safe School Program. PROGRAM to strengthen the security in primary and secondary schools.
“We are collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force which is currently training a Schools Protection Squad (SPS). We have made adequate budgetary provision for the effective implementation of our Safe School Program.”
Gov. Sani outlined prevention measures taken by his administration including the Fencing of schools, the Establishment of Security and Safety Response Committees with membership drawn from schools and communities, the Deployment of Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) to schools, and the Provision of emergency line to schools
Others include Security Awareness Training for School Managers, teaching and non-teaching staff, and School Management Committee members, Construction of Muster Points in Schools training on the identification of Early Warning Signs, and the Construction of Watch Towers in schools.
The governor opined that civic vigilance is essentially about the will of the people and how they express such will in securing their environment and their future.
“In recognition of the fact that our main weapon against terrorists, bandits, and insurgents are the people because these criminal elements live among them, the Kaduna State Government has developed a Framework for Psychological Operations, aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people.
“We have been holding regular meetings with Elders, Religious Leaders, Youth, Women and Development Associations. We are resilient people. What our people have gone through and still going through is enough to break the spirits of people in other climes.
“To renew the confidence of our people and restart the process of rebuilding local economies, we must assist security forces and our people to acquire new skill sets.
“Managing risks, investing in resilience, and responding to shocks when they occur is a shared responsibility of governments, communities, and the private sector.
“I hope that this Capacity Building Programme will not only equip the participants with the skills and techniques of coping in challenging security situations but will develop a Framework for Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication to Win the Hearts and Minds of Citizens in Conflicts Challenged Communities.
“Security forces must hold regular meetings with elders, religious leaders, representatives of youth and women groups. Consultative Committees on Security should be formed in communities, with membership drawn from security forces and key stakeholders.
“They can play a key role in gathering intelligence, mobilizing the citizens on security and development issues, as well as nipping potential crisis in the bud.
“The theme of this Capacity Building program “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education” is apt.
“No nation can achieve its human capital development goals, and make giant developmental strides if it fails to guarantee the safety and security of schools.
“And for you to effectively guarantee the safety and security of schools, you must build the capacity of security forces and communities to anticipate, prepare for, reduce the impact of, cope with, and recover from the effects of shocks and stresses.
“It follows therefore that security forces must integrate host communities in their security plans and execute effective Psychological Operations to win the hearts and minds of the people.
“I commend the federal government for launching the N144.8 Billion Safe Schools Financing Plan in 2022. The plan was developed through rigorous consultative strategic engagements with all relevant stakeholders in the education and security sectors, at national and sub-national levels.
“It is gratifying to note that in furtherance of this plan, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun has established the Schools Protection Squad (SPS), a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria.”
In his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP Audu Ali Dabigi said the establishment of the School Protection Squad signifies a monumental step towards ensuring the safety and security of educational institutions, which is the bedrock of our society.
CP Dabigi explained that it is a testament to a collective commitment to safeguarding the future of children and fostering an environment conducive to learning and development.
“As we embark on this journey, let us remember the importance of collaboration and unity in achieving our goals.
“Together, with the support of our community stakeholders, we can overcome any challenge and create a safer, more secure environment for our students, teachers, and staff.
“I urge every one of us to embrace the mission of the School Protection Squad wholeheartedly and to work tirelessly towards its success. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every child in Kaduna State has the opportunity to pursue his/her education in a safe and secure environment.”
Similarly, the national coordinator of the SAFE Schools program Halima Iliya stressed that the government mindful of its responsibility to create a safer and more secure teaching, learning, and living environment for her children has taken several steps in this direction.
“In 2014, as part of efforts to tackle these crises, the Federal Government launched the Safe School Initiative (SSI), the Initiative was to enable children affected by conflict and insecurity to continue with their education unhindered. On 31 December 2019, FG formally signed the Safe Schools Declaration Ratification Documents, signalling the country’s commitment to its implementation.
She said: “What we are witnessing today is the implementation of the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023-2026). The Plan has a total investment of N144.8 billion and the Federal Government has released N15 billion in 2023, to the implementing agencies. These agencies are the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria Police, NSCDC, DSS, and Defense Headquarters.
“The federal government is committed to ensuring funding is available for full implementation of the National Plan.
“The objective of the Plan is to build security resilience in host communities, strengthen detection, deterrence, and response capabilities of security personnel, to integrate host communities into a security architecture, early warning, and intelligence gathering, amongst others.
“The implementation is in phases starting with Most at Risk States, which Kaduna State is considered to be among the pilot states, faced with the recent kidnapped of over 100 pupils by non-state actors in Kuriga Community. I would like to commend the Inspector General of Police Kayode Ebetokun who has taken proactive measures by establishing the Safe Schools Squad and are deployed across the country.” She said.
• Says over 1,500 schools in eight LGAs don’t have fence
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has said that the 32 general hospitals in the State, have not been renovated in the last 20 years, a situation which he said is unfortunately making citizens travel to neighbouring states for medical care.
Governor Sani, who stated this while addressing stakeholders from the 23 local government areas of the state, also said that over 1,500 schools in the eight frontline local government areas of the state, do not have fence.
Sani, who lamented that most of the hospitals were in sorry states, however, stated that his administration has resolved to, in the first phase, remodel, reconstruct and reequip six of the general hospitals, two in each of the three senatorial zones of the state.
The Governor also disclosed that, as part of efforts to complement the government’s commitment to implementing the Safe School Initiative, two prominent Kaduna-based business moguls, Alhaji Adamu Atta of Fifth Chucker and Alhaji Bukar Shettima of Barbados, are to build fences for 100 schools.
According to the Governor, “One of the major areas of focus of our government is healthcare. In the last one month, I have received reports from our Deputy Governor, who is one of the most prominent, established public health specialists in Nigeria, that our 32 general hospitals in Kaduna as we speak, most of them are not functional.
“Because of that, most of the patients from Kaduna have to travel to some neighbouring states for medical attention. This is unacceptable. And that is why we have decided to remodel, reconstruct at least six of the 32 general hospitals. This project will be starting by the grace of God on Monday, that is in the next few days.
“These general hospitals that we are remodelling and reconstructing are; General Hospital Rigasa, General Hospital Maigana, General Hospital Gwantu, General Hospital Kafanchan, General Hospital Giwa and General Hospital Ikara…
“We are also focusing on education because we believe education is the greatest enabler. That is the only thing we can give to the children of the poor and they would be anything they want to be. This is why we are also investing heavily in the area of education.
Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani has appealed to citizens to carry on with the good virtues and lessons of Ramadan for the peace and progress of the state.
He made the call yesterday at the Emir of Zazzau’s palace during the Sallah Durbar celebration, shortly after the Eid prayer in Zaria.
According to him, “we have prayed for the peace of our state in the month of Ramadan and I want us to carry on with the good virtues.
“We are facing some challenges as you are aware, mostly insecurity. We are all working closely together with the stakeholders and the government at the federal level in addressing them.
“We also have other challenges that we are looking at generally, we are calling on our citizens to continue to work for the progress of our state.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, hailed the Federal and Kaduna state governments and security operatives for the efforts put in place to ensure peace in the state.
He also commended the Federal and Kaduna state government’s joint efforts towards rescuing the abducted Kuriga School children.
Pursuant to the avowed resolve of his administration to remain open, transparent and consistently accountable to the people, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Saturday, 25 March, held a well-attended townhall meeting with citizens and residents of the state. It was, once again, a time for the governor to render account of his stewardship, almost 10 months after the people gave him their mandate to preside over the affairs of the state.
Typically, Governor Sani was open, blunt and convivial as he interfaced with the people with utmost humility. It was open and participatory governance in full display and the attendees relished every moment of the very crucial meeting. It was therefore with shock that most persons who attended the townhall meeting, received snippets of false narratives that began making the rounds a few hours after, especially to the effect that Governor Sani castigated his predecessor in office, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, at the event. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who was present at the townhall meeting will easily attest to the fact that Governor Sani did not even mention the name of Mallam El Rufai at the meeting. I dare also repudiate in totality, insinuations that at the townhall meeting, subliminal attempts were made by the governor to “expose” or disparage his predecessor. Nothing of such happened.
The general understanding was (and still is) that the townhall meeting was summoned by Governor Sani to personally and compassionately communicate some inevitable policy and programme’s adjustments that his administration had resolved to make in the face of rapidly changing and challenging events. The governor, being the custodian of the sacred mandate of the people, rightly called the meeting, in line with international best practice, to unveil the policy adjustments and to secure their buy-in and of course to take home immediate feedbacks that could further help guide the new direction of the administration.
For starters, it will not be far from the truth to assert that the townhall meeting was triggered by recent events in the state, particularly the unfortunate abduction of 137 school children from the Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The sad occurrence momentarily placed Kaduna State on not just national but global spotlight. Thankfully, the children have since been safely rescued and returned to the comfort of their respective homes.
Undoubtedly, for Sani and most other right-thinking citizens and residents of Kaduna State, the impetuous and even audacious abduction of such a sizable number of innocent children from their schools by rampaging bandits, among other things, completely changed the dynamics of the administration, going forward. The very discerning and sensitive Sani did not need any special prompting to understand that, for now, the overwhelming consensus is that sustainable safety and security across Kaduna State be accorded huge priority by the government, even as the governor pursues other noble goals.
“The safety and security of our citizens is our topmost priority. The abduction of the Kuriga school children was hurtful and nightmarish. Their return has gladdened our hearts. All praises to Almighty God. The return of the Kuriga school children is a pointer to the fact that when we work collectively, success is guaranteed. The President, National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army all stood up to be counted. I spent sleepless nights with the NSA finetuning strategies and directing operations. The good people of Kaduna State, and indeed Nigerians from all walks of life prayed ceaselessly for the safe return of the school children,” the governor recalled at the townhall meeting.
Governor Sani then proceeded to unveil a number of urgent measures his administration was putting in place to stave off future attacks, abductions and to generally downgrade the activities of criminal elements that have for so long terrorised the state. “Even as we continue to give the traumatised Kuriga school children all the medical, psychosocial and other support they need. We shall, without delay, commence the implementation of our Safe School Project. We shall merge schools in conflict prone areas with those in safe areas. We shall fence our schools, erect watch towers and draft security personnel to protect the schools and children,” he told the hundreds of attendees at the townhall meeting. The governor was resolute about the urgency of reworking several dilapidated and insecure schools across communities in all the local government areas of the state.
Governor Sani said his administration will be deploying formal and vocational education as potent weapons to curb poverty and insecurity in the state. Education, the governor noted, is a leveler and a tool for economic liberation. “We are determined to decisively address the skills deficits of our people with the construction of Vocational and Technology Skills City in Rigachikun, Samarun Kataf and Soba. We want to reposition our citizens to become competitive in a fast changing and complex world. We want our citizens to have the requisite skills to fill positions in the business concerns we have attracted to the state. We slashed the fees in our tertiary institutions to lessen the burden on parents and ensure that our children continue with their education uninterrupted,” he said.
Aside massively rehabilitating and constructing classrooms in primary and secondary schools across the state, the administration, Sani said, is raising the quality of the state’s teachers through sustained training and retraining. In partnership with Google, Kaduna State is training 5,000 women and girls in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Applied Digital Technology, the governor revealed.
To the delight of the attendees, the governor disclosed that the state is strengthening collaboration with security agencies and fashioning more effective strategies to checkmate and degrade the evil elements laying siege on communities in the state. He revealed that Kaduna is closely and intentionally engaging with neighbouring states to develop joint strategies and carry out joint operations against criminal elements that have been crisscrossing states in the North-west of the country, wreaking havoc and subjecting mostly rural communities to untold hardship. He announced that his administration is meticulously putting in place long-lasting and measurable kinetic and non-kinetic options that would deepen safety and security in all parts of Kaduna State.
The governor also told the audience that with full support of the state government, the nation’s Armed Forces have set up Forward Operation Bases in strategic locations across the state.
At the townhall meeting, Sani reiterated his often-held position that opening up the rural communities in the state and linking them to empowerment opportunities and urban economies would drastically downgrade and possibly decimate banditry in Kaduna State. “We have embarked on massive infrastructural development in the rural areas, while carrying out infrastructure upgrades in the urban areas. I have performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 22 roads across the local governments of Kaduna State. About 832 kilometres of roads are currently under construction,” he said.
Considering the cost implications of the enormous and urgent tasks his administration must necessarily undertake, especially in the bid to secure the state for actual development to commence, Governor Sani was very open about the current financial standing of the state. Kaduna State, the governor disclosed, was contending with huge debt burden, stemming largely from deductions from inherited loans. The financial situation, he said, has become so dire that the state is currently unable to pay salaries.
It could be recalled that in May 2023, while handing-over to Senator Uba Sani, the departing governor, El Rufai openly revealed that he was bequeathing a domestic debt of N80.60 billion and a foreign debt of $577.32 million to his successor. El-Rufai was however quick to add that he left N5 billion and $2.05 million in the state’s treasury.
At the March 25th townhall meeting, Governor Sani confirmed that the state is now deeply burdened by an inherited debt portfolio of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities. The huge debt burden, the governor said, was eating deep into the state’s monthly Federal Allocation of fund, hence the difficulty in paying salaries to the state’s workers in the month of March. He lamented that due to the rise in the exchange rate, Kaduna State is now paying back almost triple of the debts that were inherited.
He explained that N7 billion out of the N10 billion Federal Allocation due to the state in the month of March was deducted to service the debt. The state was left with N3 billion, an amount which is not enough to pay salaries, as the state’s monthly salary bill stands at N5.2 billion. Even Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is not spared as a popular bank in Nigeria deducts N1 billion every month from the state’s IGR.
In an emotion-laden voice, Sani told the townhall meeting attendees that in his bid to navigate round the debilitating effect of the debt on the smooth running of Kaduna State, he approached President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help facilitate a reprieve of sorts. He said that a very sympathetic President Tinubu reminded him that Kaduna’s debt was a foreign loan and that there was little or nothing the Federal Government could do. Usually, the Federal Government only functions as guarantor of foreign loans procured by state governments.
Sani however said that despite the humongous debt burden on the state government, he was yet to borrow a single kobo in the last nine months of his administration. He said that in almost 10 months, he has continued to meet all monetary obligations of the administrations with funds he inherited. Evidently, with the huge deductions and exchange rate differentials, it has been very difficult retaining funds in the coffers of the state government.
The governor assured the people that the debt burden not withstanding, his administration remained resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. “Despite the huge debt burden inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly. I am actually glad to inform you that, despite the huge inherited debts, till date, we have not borrowed a single kobo,” he said.
He also informed the people that on his part, he has been very prudent with the state’s funds. Sani reminded the attendees that he announced that he was taking 50 per cent salary cut the very day he assumed office and that similarly all his commissioners and political aides have all taken huge salary cuts. He noted that most of his commissioners and aides are now much poorer than they were before they took up their respective appointments.
No commissioner in my administration attends any government-funded foreign trip. The few that have had to travel out of compulsion, travelled on Economy Class tickets. As governor, I have not used government funds to buy First Class tickets when I travel. I travel on Business Class or on Economy Class on a number of times that I have had to travel out on official assignments. I have not procured new official cars for commissioners or any of my political aides since I assumed office,” Governor Sani told the audience.
While answering questions from the attendees, Governor Sani bemoaned the actions of contractors engaged by the previous administration to undertake a number of urban renewal projects in the state. “It is a shame that many of the contractors who have been reasonably mobilized have abandoned the jobs they ought to be completing by now. Some of them are even coming to me to be paid more money. I don’t have problem with paying people but I will only pay those who have worked. They must return to site and complete the jobs that they were paid to do,” he said.
Interestingly, the governor had lots of good news to share at the town hall meeting. Chief among these is the fact that his administration has been attracting Direct Foreign Investments and has also been firming up collaborations with reputable organisations and agencies. For one, the very remarkable Qatar Sanabil Project has in such a short period began helping to change the face of Kaduna for good.
According to the governor, under the Qatar Sanabil Project, a Mass Housing Project for the Less Privileged is being undertaken. Apart from houses, there will also be clinics, shops, poultry farms, and farmlands for rainy season and irrigation farming. The flagship project under the Qatar Sanabil Project however is the Kaduna Economic City. When completed, the Economic City will provide world class infrastructure and make Kaduna a reference point in modern accommodation, adequate security and conducive atmosphere for business activities. Through a Public – Private Partnership, Nurus Siraj and Kaduna State Government are developing a 3319 hectares layout at Ungwan Dosa New Extension, Kaduna to provide houses for the people.
He further informed that the Qatar Charity recently carried out an extensive, state – wide free eye surgery for Kaduna citizens; that Zipline has been delivering on-demand medical commodities via drones where needed in due time, saving lives, reducing cost of inventory and serving health facilities across Kaduna State; that the 300 – bed Kaduna ultra – modern Specialist Hospital, a Kaduna State – Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) joint project is nearing completion and that Pfizer is committing $1 million into the Kaduna health sector to help in the distribution of health commodities, especially vaccines and blood.
“We have attracted and still attracting investors and partners. Kaduna State Government has a long standing partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This relationship has over the years yielded positive outcomes in the state particularly in addressing the issues of maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, water and sanitation, amongst others. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported the Kaduna State Government in the development of the Kaduna Agricultural Sector Strategy for Achieving Food Systems and Improving Nutrition. We are currently pursuing a collaborative partnership with GAVI to eliminate Zero-vaccination dose children in the State,” Governor Uba Sani disclosed.
Still on education, Governor Sani said aside the establishment of several skills and vocational cities to address skill deficits in the state, his government in collaboration with Kuwait was working to reduce out-of-school children in Kaduna State by 200,000, adding that the four-year programme, which will start in may or June 2024, is a $62 million project that will build 102 new schools in the state and renovate 170 existing ones within a span of four years.
At the town hall meeting, prominent citizens of the state including former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, among other persons, expressed optimism and confidence in the administration of Governor Sani in spite of the challenging times. Agwai, in particular applauded the decision of the governor to make sustained safety and security of every part of the state a top priority.
It is a huge shame that some persons attempted to diminish the essence and beauty of the town hall meeting by resorting to the politicisation of some comments or revelations made by Governor Sani at the event, in the very best interest of Kaduna State. There was really no basis for this cheap political shenanigan. Contrary to the false tale that some persons are trying to put out (but failing woefully at it) Governor Sani never said he was not aware of the loans Kaduna State government obtained. He could not have. In fact, as a senator, he played a leading role in facilitating the loan from the World Bank. He did that in the best interest of the people of the state and he has never ever regretted doing this. However, for the sake of probity and accountability, especially in an era of open governance, the governor needed to give the people an update on the status of the loan and other debts he inherited. Fortunately, Sani is well aware that Kaduna State is way bigger than himself and his predecessor. The people have the right to know and to be well-informed. No wonder the leadership of labour unions in the state, after listening very carefully to the governor at the town hall meeting, resolved not to pressurise the administration any more to pay out wage award to workers.
Even more noteworthy is the fact that the town hall meeting served as a veritable platform for the governor and all concerned citizens of Kaduna State to rob minds on ways to actualise and even accelerate the security, economic and over-all development agenda of Sani’s administration.
