Kaduna witnessing positive change under my watch — Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani has revealed that he inherited a Kaduna State with vast potential but weighed down by significant challenges, including insecurity, infrastructure deficits, and pressing social concerns.

The governor made this known while speaking at a workshop for senior government officials organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The event formed part of activities for the ongoing Nigeria Public Relations Week, tagged Croc City 2026, currently holding in Kaduna.

Themed ‘’From Policy To Public Trust: Strategic Communication For Vision Alignment And Governance Delivery For Renewed Hope,’’ participants at the workshop included Commissioners, Special Advisers, Counsellors and Permanent Secretaries as well as other senior Government officials.

Speaking at the event, Governor Uba Sani said that ‘’Kaduna is not 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 set to do even greater things and attain higher heights.’’

He disclosed that his administration understood from the outset that incremental adjustments would not take the State to the desired heights, adding that what was required is a disciplined reorientation of governance itself.

According to him, his Government then vowed that vision must translate into measurable impact or else it will remain an aspiration.

‘’We institutionalised a performance framework built around Key Performance Indicators, ensuring that every ministry, department, and agency operates with clarity of purpose and accountability of outcome,’’ he added.

The Governor said that he also structured his agenda around seven strategic pillars upon assuming office in 2023 and the results have started manifesting positively in the last two and half years.

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

Governor Uba Sani pointed out that these pillars are not isolated priorities but ‘’interconnected levers, designed to function as a coherent system; each reinforcing the other, each contributing to a broader objective: the transformation of Kaduna State into a secure, prosperous, and inclusive society.’’

He argued that security is the foundation upon 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 worked 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 strengthened mobility and response through the deployment of over 150 operational vehicles and 500 motorcycles to security agencies. In our urban centres, we constituted a Joint Task Force that has significantly reduced incidents of street crime and banditry generally,’’ he added.

Governor Uba Sani further said that his Government also focused on structural outcomes.

“We have reclaimed over 20,000 hectares of previously inaccessible farmland, enabling farmers to return to productive activity, especially in places like Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Kargarko.

“We have facilitated the resettlement of over 1,000 displaced persons and continue to provide targeted support to more than 117,000 internally displaced persons, with particular attention to women and children,’’ he added.

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

‘’The Kaduna Incident Report 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 institutionalised peace dialogues, established local peace councils, and implemented a rehabilitation and reintegration framework that prioritises skills acquisition over financial inducement as part of its non-kinetic strategy.

He argued that although the result is not perfect but ‘’security is improving, confidence is returning, and economic activity is gradually expanding in areas that were once considered inaccessible. All of this is encapsulated in what we now call the Kaduna Peace Model.’’

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

‘’We have constructed 736 new classrooms and renovated over 1,200 existing ones. We have recruited 10,000 teachers and trained more than 33,000 education personnel in modern teaching methodologies and digital skills,’’ he said.