by Hussaina Yakubu
Gov. Uba Sani has advised states seeking to replicate the Kaduna Peace Model to first identify the root causes of their security challenges before adopting similar strategies.
Sani said communities must own the peace process, believe in it and drive implementation for sustainable success.
The governor gave the advice on Tuesday while receiving the National Economic Council Implementation Monitoring Committee at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
He said his administration inherited a wide trust deficit between government and citizens, making confidence-building its first priority.
According to him, justice, equity and fairness were also prioritised to prevent exploitation by politicians and conflict entrepreneurs.
Sani said criminal elements had previously exploited religious and ethnic divisions, fuelling violence across Kaduna State.
He noted that Kaduna’s security challenges included ethno-religious conflicts, kidnapping and banditry.
The governor said available data showed ethno religious violence claimed more lives than banditry, prompting deliberate interventions.
He attributed the end of ethno-religious crises to inclusive governance and equitable development across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas.
Sani said Kaduna had recorded no ethno-religious crisis since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
He added that the community driven Kaduna Peace Model had significantly reduced kidnapping and banditry.
The governor disclosed that several states had expressed interest in adopting the Kaduna Peace Model.
He advised them to prioritise governance above politics, religion and ethnic considerations.
Sani said improved security had enabled the recovery of over 500,000 hectares of previously abandoned farmland.
He added that more than 100 schools earlier closed because of insecurity had resumed operations.
The governor also said over 150 primary healthcare facilities previously shut due to insecurity were now fully operational.
Sani said his administration was focusing on education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure development.
He explained that education reforms included formal learning alongside vocational and skills development programmes.
According to him, Kaduna leads Nigeria in skills-based education, attracting national recognition.
He said about 4,300 trainees had graduated from the state’s vocational institute with nationally recognised certifications.
The governor said Kaduna had reduced its out-of-school population by about 300,000, citing UNICEF and official statistics.
He added that the state consistently allocates at least 26 per cent of its annual budget to education.
Sani reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accessible and quality healthcare for all residents.
He said Kaduna upgraded all 255 primary healthcare centres to Level Two status with qualified personnel.
The governor added that 16 of about 20 moribund secondary healthcare facilities had been remodelled and equipped.
He said President Bola Tinubu commissioned the state’s 300 bed specialist hospital, describing it as one of Northern Nigeria’s best.
Sani described agriculture as Kaduna’s economic backbone, employing about 60 per cent of the workforce.
He said the agriculture budget increased from N1.4 billion in 2023 to about N123 billion.
According to him, the allocation exceeds the 10 per cent benchmark under the Malabo Declaration.
The governor said Kaduna currently leads Nigeria in maize, tomato and ginger production.
He added that 900 trucks of free fertiliser were distributed to over 240,000 smallholder farmers last year.
Sani said another round of fertiliser distribution for at least 240,000 farmers would begin within one week.
He also said Kaduna became the first state to establish a Special Agro Processing Zone to strengthen agricultural value chains.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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