Kaduna is now better than I met it – Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani disclosed that he inherited Kaduna State which has immense potential but was plagued with security challenges, infrastructure gaps and social indicators that required urgent attention.

The governor was speaking at a seminar for senior government officials organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), as part of the ongoing Nigeria Public Relations Week, Croc City 2026, held in Kaduna.

Themed “From Politics to Public Trust: Strategic Communication for Aligning Vision and Realizing Governance for Renewed Hope,” workshop participants included Commissioners, Special Advisers, Advisers and Permanent Secretaries, as well as other senior government officials.

Speaking at the event, Governor Uba Sani said ”Kaduna is no longer where it was. Kaduna is by far a better place today and even more exciting is the fact that Kaduna is on the move and ready to do even greater things and reach greater heights.”

He revealed that his administration had understood from the beginning that incremental adjustments would not bring the state to the desired levels, adding that what was needed is a disciplined reorientation of governance itself.

According to him, his government then promised that the vision must translate into measurable impact, otherwise it will remain an aspiration.

“We have institutionalized a performance framework built around key performance indicators, ensuring that every ministry, department and agency operates with clarity of purpose and accountability for results,” he added.

The governor said he structured his agenda around seven strategic pillars even upon taking office in 2023 and that the results have started to manifest positively in the last two and a half years.

He said the seven pillars include safety and security; infrastructure development; strengthening institutions; trade and investment; agriculture; human capital development; and citizen involvement.

Governor Uba Sani stressed that these pillars are not isolated priorities but ”interconnected levers, designed to work as a coherent system; each reinforces the other and each contributes to a larger goal: the transformation of Kaduna Dtate into a safe, prosperous and inclusive society.”

He argued that security is the foundation on which all progress rests, adding that without it, “farmers cannot cultivate their land, businesses cannot invest and communities cannot thrive.”

The governor disclosed that he has been working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the military high command, to establish new military bases in high-risk areas, including Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Southern Kaduna.

”We have strengthened mobility and response through the deployment of over 150 operational vehicles and 500 motorcycles to security agencies. In our urban centers we have set up a joint Task Force which has significantly reduced incidents of street crime and banditry in general,” he added.

Governor Uba Sani further said his government was also focused on structural outcomes.

”We have reclaimed over 20,000 hectares of previously inaccessible agricultural land, allowing farmers to return to productive activity, especially in places such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Kargarko.

“We have facilitated the resettlement of more than 1,000 displaced people and continue to provide targeted support to more than 117,000 internally displaced people, with a particular focus on women and children,” he added.

The governor further disclosed that his administration established the first forensic laboratory in Northern Nigeria, which has strengthened investigative capacity.

”The Kaduna Incident Reporting Centre, KAD-IR, now provides a 24-hour platform for real-time emergency response. Early warning systems are in place to detect and defuse tensions before they escalate,” he revealed.

According to him, Kaduna State has institutionalized peace dialogues, established local peace councils and implemented a rehabilitation and reintegration framework that prioritizes skill acquisition over financial incentives as part of its non-kinetic strategy.

According to him, even if the outcome is not perfect, “security is improving, confidence is returning and economic activity is gradually expanding into areas that were once considered inaccessible.” All this is encapsulated in what we now call the Kaduna Peace Model.”

Governor Uba Sani also said his administration has made great strides in the education sector, making targeted investments to expand access and improve quality.

”We have built 736 new classrooms and renovated over 1,200 existing ones. We have recruited 10,000 teachers and trained more than 33,000 educational staff in modern teaching methodologies and digital skills,” he said.

The governor underlined that ”one of our most significant results has been the reduction in the number of children who do not attend school: from approximately 550,000 to 187,720 in two years.

“This progress reflects not only investments, but also coordination, data-driven interventions and ongoing engagement with communities,” he further said.

Governor Uba Sani also said his government is aligning education with the needs of a modern economy.

”The creation of the Institute for Vocational Training and Skills Development marks a decisive step towards bridging the gap between education and employment.

“Through training in ICT, mechatronics, renewable energy and other high-demand sectors, we are preparing our youth not just for work, but for productivity and innovation,” he said.

The governor also said he has expanded access to healthcare, improved the quality of healthcare facilities and strengthened systems over the past two and a half years.

”We have upgraded 255 primary health centers to level 2 facilities and created 23 centers of excellence; one in each local government area. We have built a 300-bed specialty hospital to provide advanced medical services within the state, reducing the need for costly medical travel,” he said.

In terms of infrastructure development, he said his government has initiated around 150 road projects, covering over 1,300 kilometers in all 23 local government areas.

According to him the projects “are part of a deliberate strategy to connect rural production centers to urban markets, to reduce travel times and to stimulate trade”.

The Governor said he increased the agriculture budget from ₦1.48 billion in 2023 to over ₦74 billion this year, distributed over 900 trucks of fertilizers to farmers, and enrolled more than 100,000 smallholders in crop insurance programs to protect them from risks.

”Through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in Chikun and Kubau, we are moving from subsistence farming to value-added agribusiness; create jobs, increase incomes and enhance export potential,” he added.

According to him, Kaduna State has created an enabling environment for private sector-led growth.

He said his administration made 23 investments worth more than $743 million between 2023 and 2025, spanning agriculture, manufacturing, energy and other key sectors.

”Additionally, we have developed an investment pipeline worth approximately $2.77 billion. This brings our total investment portfolio to over $3.5 billion; a clear signal that confidence in Kaduna is strengthening,” he added.

The governor also said his administration has made great strides in social protection and inclusion, opening more than 2.5 million new bank accounts for underbanked citizens and expanding financial inclusion.

He revealed that his government has allocated over ₦18 billion in targeted support to families, farmers and small businesses.

“Our free methane mass transit system has already benefited more than 1.4 million passengers, reducing transportation costs and easing the burden on families,” he added.

Governor Uba Sani promised that “through Project 255, we will deliver £100 million in public investment to every district, ensuring that development reaches every community; both urban and rural.”