Governor Uba Sani’s End Of The Bargain

By Alphonsus Okoroigwe

The ongoing happenings in the political administration of Kaduna State aptly remind me of Douglas Adams, who in one of his famous quotes, implies that to give real service, one must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money. And such priceless things, for him (Adams), are sincerity and integrity, which today reflect the evident features of a journey that began on Monday, May 29, 2023; the day Malam Uba Sani became the official chief occupant of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the state’s seat of power.

Characterised by expectations and uncertainties, the true colours of the ensuing era manifested that fateful day in the inaugural speech at the swearing-in ceremony, as enunciated in a 7-point S-U-S-T-A-I-N agenda. In the agenda, Malam Uba Sani specifically promised to ensure safety and security, upgrade infrastructure, strengthen institutions, expand trade and investment, boost agriculture, energise investment in human capital, and nurture citizen engagement; thereby opening a new vista of hope for progress in Kaduna State.

For such a focused, organised, and practical populist that people widely say he is, his coming intensely occasioned the unleashing of a Capricorn instinct, such that is gradually resonating a governor’s sincerity and commitment to fulfilling his end of the bargain; the promises he made to the people of Kaduna State. And so far, pundits say Uba Sani is breaking new grounds in these respects, for which a brief assessment of his performance in some critical sectors of governance becomes necessary, with particular consideration to how sincerely he has employed the basic ingredients of his S-U-S-T-A-I-N agenda in running the affairs of the state.

On safety and security, the Uba Sani administration from inception, officially recruited 7,000 local security personnel to support and strengthen conventional security agencies in fighting banditry and other criminal activities across the state. It also launched a joint security outfit named “Operation Fushin Kada,” equipping it with 150 vehicles and 500 motorcycles to expand and enhance rapid security response in moments of need. Added to this, it donated an expanse of land for the construction of new headquarters for the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state. Last June, it inaugurated a special joint task force on community and drug control to stem rising security challenges in some parts of the state. The administration this past July hosted a regional security summit to help tackle banditry and other security challenges confronting the North-West zone. Remarkably, it received a commendation from the government of the United Kingdom last September for improved security in Kaduna State, a feat for which the state is now reclassified from “red” to “amber” in the travel advisory of the UK. And just last week, it inaugurated a technical working group on preventing and countering violent extremism in the state.

On infrastructure, it declared a state of emergency in the state’s water sector, reportedly spending over $25 billion and raising capacity utilisation to over 30%, as well as paying N800 million for all salary arrears owed staffers of the Kaduna State Water Corporation, and settling an outstanding electricity bill to the tune of N1.3 billion. It also completed over 32 out of 82 news road projects and those inherited from the previous administration, especially the roads linking Kaduna Bridge from Kabala Costain to Aliyu Makama Road, and the Rabah Road-Rigasa Train Station expressway. In addition, it restored electricity in Kagarko Local Government Area and repaired four critical electricity transformers in Makera area.

For the education sector, it built 62 new secondary schools across the state and three institutes of vocational training and skills development at Soba, Rigachikun, and Samaru Kataf; constructed over 600 classrooms, reduced tuition fees in state-owned higher institutions by 50%, and cleared all outstanding tuition fees totalling $247,235.84 owed foreign universities for state-sponsored students.

On health, the Uba Sani administration, among other projects, upgraded 255 primary healthcare centres, rehabilitated and equipped the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency warehouse alongside about 13 general hospitals, and completed a 300-bed specialist hospital abandoned since 2009, with the Federal Ministry of Health confirming the state’s 100% coverage of public health facilities in medicines distribution in 2024. It also approved new CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures to boost the morale of healthcare workers. And just recently, it inaugurated the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KADSEMSAS) to provide rapid, life-saving services across the state.

In the area of trade and investment, it confirmed attracting over $2 billion for Kaduna State, including over $503 million in realised Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between 2023 and 2024. It also established a $20 million lithium processing plant in partnership with Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nigeria Limited in June 2024, signed a law for the establishment of the Kaduna Mining Development Company last July, and last June, signed a N1billion MoU with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) to support and provide local enterprises with loans.

On agriculture, the administration distributed 500 trucks of fertilizer free of charge to about 100,000 smallholder farmers, and enrolled them in a crop risk insurance scheme; with commercial farmers individually given 10 bags of fertiliser at 40% subsidised rate of N30,000 per bag. It also supported about 69,000 smallholder farmers with quality maize seeds and agrochemicals, and distributed farm implements such as tillers, solar-powered and gasoline-powered irrigation pumping machines, motorised sprayers, herbicides, pesticides, and thousands of bags of Urea and NPK fertilisers to cooperative societies.

In terms of youth and women development and human capital investment, the administration trained 500 indigenous youths and women on briquette making, providing a healthy alternative in collaboration with the Kaduna Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. It also distributed clean cooking stoves to 400 women and youths in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Women’s Initiative on Sustainable Environment (WISE).

And on citizen engagement, reports say the Uba Sani administration regularly involves Kaduna men, women, and children in budget preparation and review, using town hall meetings to source their inputs.

Now with all these projects executed and many more, a good number of Kaduna indigenes have gone beyond parochial considerations to admit that Governor Uba Sani has been sincere to his end of the bargain. And while they speak this strongly of the governor’s performance, they also observe that more efforts are needed at improving the states of potable water and electricity in Kaduna State.

Now in all of these, I’m able to understand the sterner stuff he is made of. And just one thing is deducible here: Governor Uba Sani is not competing against anyone. Also, he is not such a man that seeks applause for cheap popularity. Rather, he feels so challenged, such that he is raising the bar of governance to enable him fulfill his promises to the people of Kaduna State. And all that is morally expected from the people’s end of the bargain is to appreciate, encourage, and support this pragmatic shift in governance, as driven by the people’s comrade.

Alphonsus Okoroigwe writes from Enugu