On the eve of the 2023 general elections, our association, which campaigned vigorously across the nooks and crannies of Kaduna state, convinced the electorate that based on his comprehensive agenda, Governor Uba Sani will deliver on his campaign promises, if given the chance.
His Excellency, over the years, has shown he will be at the forefront of advocating democracy and delivery of good governance, sustainable development, national unity and progress for all Nigerians. We share these values. And,looking at the myriad achievements he recorded within one year on the saddle, we are fully vindicated.
Recently, when we visited our constituencies and had discussions with the electorate, Governor Uba Sani was celebrated and showered accolades for his numerous achievements in office. Governor Uba Sani has incorporated a comprehensive and multidimensional strategy aimed at catering to the different demands of the populace.
His policies and wide-ranging projects have moved the state closer to development and prosperity. The governor presented a comprehensive governance model that aims to serve the various needs of the people of Kaduna state. The approach cuts across various aspects of human development.
To enhance education, the governor emphasised his administration’s plan for sustainable development. The plans include: increased access to higher education, improved teacher welfare and standards, and encourage ICT proficiency among students, starting with basic education. Ensuring that all students have free and quality education from primary to secondary school is a major goal of the Uba Sani government.
“Well-educated and healthy citizens are crucial for building a robust society and a prosperous economy. To this end, the government has taken measures to ensure access to free and high-quality education for every child in Kaduna State, spanning from primary to secondary school,” he vowed.
By building more primary and secondary schools across Kaduna state, the Uba Sani administration is tackling the problem of out-of-school children and aggressively supporting girl-child education. The commitment to improving education infrastructure is demonstrated by the ongoing infrastructural expansions in primary and junior secondary schools, which include the commissioning of a 200-bed dormitory, classrooms, and a sickbay.
Governor Uba Sani quickly cited rural development as the cornerstone of his administration’s policy in response to a query on employment creation. He emphasised that agribusiness has proven to be the most rapid way to reduce poverty in the state because Kaduna has so many resources at its disposal, including a temperate climate, an abundance of water, fertile land, and young, hardworking people who work in agriculture.
According to him, “Rural development is at the core of our administration. Agribusiness stands as a major economic activity in our state and has been proven to be the fastest means of poverty reduction. We are blessed with favourable climate conditions, abundant water resources, fertile lands, and industrious youths engaged in farming activities across our state”.
The governor presented an integrated strategy including crop and livestock production, as well as support services, to address issues facing the agro-industry. Strengthening the extension assistance system through public-private sector collaboration, updating and bolstering farmer databases, and concentrating on priority crops for industrial and export markets are essential components of this strategy.
Importantly, in an effort to guarantee higher returns for farmers, the administration is aggressively seeking to draw capital to commodity exchanges. The drive for automation and investments in agricultural processing is intended to accelerate the adoption of new technologies by offering dependable markets and fostering mentorship between larger-scale and smaller-scale farmers.
In the area of infrastructure, Kaduna state last year witnessed rapid expansion. In order to facilitate the rapid economic growth of rural communities, Governor Uba Sani outlined the Rural Transformation Agenda, emphasising the importance of expanding infrastructure in all local government areas. The administration has built upon and enhanced the infrastructure upgrades initiated by the previous administration, with the goal of improving public welfare and accelerating economic growth.
The government has executed Rural Transformation Agenda, with a primary focus on extending infrastructure to all local government areas. This initiative aims to support rapid economic growth in rural communities.The plan to construct 5–10 km road network with solar street lights and efficient drainage systems in each local government headquarters has started in earnest.
There are also plans to install solar mini-grids and upgrade the marketplaces at local government headquarters to function as hubs for aggregating agricultural and commercial activities. Additionally, the administration is staffing and outfitting these areas’ main health facilities to offer rural residents the basic medical care they require.
On assumption of office, Governor Uba Sani convened a Security Council meeting that brought together all heads of security agencies in Kaduna state. During the meeting, he made a comprehensive review of the security situation, identified challenges, and collaboratively devised strategies to invigorate the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in the state. He also outlined specific initiatives and actions taken to improve the security situation in Kaduna state.
Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to security issues was underscored. As soon as he took office, all heads of security agencies met. This meeting enabled a comprehensive assessment of the security environment, the identification of obstacles, and the cooperative development of tactics to strengthen the resistance against kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activity. The administration’s commitment to strengthening security was evident by the better coordination between security agencies, the increase in logistical support, and the interaction with the new service chiefs.
Governor Uba Sani’s one year in office has changed the political narrative and redefined governance in Kaduna state. The drop in federal allocation to Kaduna state to service loans incurred by the previous administration has not deterred the governor from fulfilling his campaign promises. His remaining years in office will witness more infrastructure development anchored on transparency, accountability and prudence.
Musa Abdulsalam,
Yariman Kurmin Kogi,
Ikara local government area,
Kaduna state 08033073475