Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has asserted that President Bola Ahmed has steadfastly fulfilled the campaign commitments he made to the northern region during the 2023 election.
During the inauguration of a two-day interactive session focused on government-citizen engagement, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Governor Sani remarked that Tinubu has provided support to his administration in addressing the security issues that have plagued the state for numerous years.
He emphasized that in the areas of security, education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and inclusion — the promises made by President Tinubu’s administration are being realized through significant, concrete results. He added that while there is still much work to be done and challenges ahead, the goal is becoming clearer.
“Upon taking office as governor in 2023, I was faced with a Kaduna State under siege. Insecurity cast a long, dark shadow over our communities. Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime had become daily realities — from the Kaduna-Abuja expressway to Birnin Gwari, from Chikun to Igabi, and throughout the troubled southern regions of our beloved state. Fear was widespread. Kaduna — once renowned for its resilience and cultural richness — was gradually being consumed by disorder,” he expressed.
“The Kaduna-Abuja highway — previously a lively route for commerce and travel — had transformed into a path of fear, a painful emblem of governmental inadequacy. The Abuja-Kaduna train attack of 2022 remains etched in our collective memory as a stark reminder of the severity of the security crisis. Entire communities were deserted, markets closed, and the very essence of Kaduna quaked under the burden of fear. Honestly, had we tried to hold this conference under those circumstances in May 2023, the venue would have been empty — or worse — made inaccessible by ongoing insecurity.
Governor Sani characterized the insecurity in the northern region as not merely a failure of military might, but as a consequence of exclusion, lack of education, and neglect in policy-making.
He stated that the presidential administration was profoundly dedicated to tackling the challenges confronting the area.
“With divine assistance — and the steadfast support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — our circumstances began to improve. We placed a strong emphasis on peace, revitalized our security forces, empowered local vigilance groups, and interacted with communities with compassion, respect, and humility. Criminal strongholds along the Kaduna-Abuja highway were dismantled, markets in Birnin Gwari reopened after more than ten years, and ghost towns in Chikun and Igabi were revitalized. In the southern part of our state, through dialogue and reconciliation, we actively established the foundation for enduring peace.
“The Federal Government, under the guidance of President Tinubu, has stood resolutely by our side. I express my gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, whose coordination and determination have guaranteed that our security measures are both strategic and consistent. I commend the Honourable Minister for Defence, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, our service chiefs, and all security leaders whose bravery and vigilance continue to safeguard our citizens. Their heroism instills a sense of pride in us.
“However, we must recognize that insecurity is not solely a failure of military action — it arises from exclusion, educational deprivation, and neglect in policy. Long before I assumed the role of Governor, I stressed that poverty is a significant catalyst for instability. By the time we assumed office in May 2023, over sixty-five percent of the population in the North-West was financially marginalized, deprived of access to credit, savings, and hope. In that absence, extremism and criminality found a fertile environment,” Sani remarked.
