Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has credited Nigeria’s federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with delivering on key promises to address insecurity and development gaps in the country’s northern region, while cautioning that systemic challenges like poverty and exclusion remain critical obstacles. Speaking at a government-citizen dialogue organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Sani outlined a dual narrative of progress and persistent vulnerabilities in the conflict-affected state.

The governor described a stark transformation since assuming office in May 2023, when Kaduna faced spiraling violence marked by banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on major transit routes. He singled out the notorious Kaduna-Abuja highway—a vital economic corridor linking the capital to the northwest—which had become a “symbol of governmental failure” following the deadly 2022 train attack that killed nine and kidnapped over 60 passengers. At the time, entire communities were abandoned, markets closed, and daily life paralyzed by fear.

Sani attributed recent security gains to coordinated efforts between state and federal authorities, including revitalized military operations, community-led vigilance groups, and development initiatives. He reported the reopening of markets in areas like Birnin Gwari after over a decade of closure and the return of displaced residents to towns in Chikun and Igabi districts. “Had we organized this conference under 2023 conditions, the hall would have been empty—or worse—due to insecurity,” he noted, emphasizing improvements enabling public gatherings like the two-day forum.

While praising Tinubu’s administration for “tangible outcomes” across security, agriculture, and infrastructure, Sani stressed that military action alone cannot resolve deep-rooted conflicts. He traced regional instability to a “void” created by financial exclusion—over 65% of northwestern residents lacked access to formal banking services in 2023—alongside educational gaps and economic marginalization. “Poverty is a potent instigator of instability. In that void, extremism and criminality found fertile ground,” he stated, reinforcing his long-standing argument that developmental neglect fuels violence.

The governor acknowledged federal support, including collaboration with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and defense officials, but called for sustained focus on social reforms. His remarks come amid ongoing counterterrorism operations in Nigeria’s northwest, where armed groups have displaced over 300,000 people since 2021, according to UN data. While celebrating reopened highways and revitalized communities, Sani framed the progress as “visible but incomplete,” urging stakeholders to tackle the interplay of security and socioeconomic equity in Africa’s most populous nation.