‘Replicate Kaduna peace model – Uba Sani to other states
Governor Uba Sani Advocates Community Ownership of Peace Model for Security
Kaduna, Nigeria — Governor Uba Sani has urged states interested in adopting the Kaduna Peace Model to first assess the specific symptoms and underlying causes of their security challenges to ensure effective implementation.
During a courtesy visit from the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the National Economic Council, Sani emphasized the importance of community involvement. He stated that for the Peace Model to succeed, local communities must embrace and actively participate in its execution.
Reflecting on his administration’s inception, Sani noted a significant trust deficit between the government and the populace, which he identified as a primary concern that needed addressing. He remarked that issues of justice and equity were also critical, as politicians had historically exploited these sensitivities for personal gain.
Sani highlighted the challenges posed by “conflict entrepreneurs” who have capitalized on divisions based on religion and ethnicity, contributing to unrest in Kaduna State. He reported that security issues had primarily stemmed from ethno-religious crises as well as kidnapping and banditry. He stated, “Statistics indicate that we lost more lives due to religious crises than banditry, prompting a thorough review of the situation.”
The governor claimed that his administration has effectively mitigated the issue of ethno-religious conflicts through inclusive policies aimed at equitable development across all 23 local governments. “Since I assumed office on May 29, 2023, there have been no instances of ethno-religious crises in Kaduna State,” he asserted.
Sani praised the Kaduna Peace Model for significantly reducing incidents of banditry and kidnapping, attributing its success to its community-driven nature. He noted an increasing number of states reaching out for guidance on replicating this model.
He advised these states to prioritize governance over politics, stating, “When we took office, we emphasized that political affiliations should not dictate our governance approach.”
The governor reported that under his administration, over 500,000 hectares of previously abandoned farmland have been reclaimed, and schools that had been shut due to insecurity are now operational. Additionally, he announced the reopening of over 150 primary healthcare facilities that had closed for the same reason.
Sani outlined his government’s focus on four key sectors: education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. He stressed that the state is making strides in skills acquisition and vocational education, claiming that Kaduna State is a national leader in skill-based education. Recently, the Vice President and the Minister of Education highlighted the state’s vocational programs as exemplary.
He reported that about 300,000 out of 550,000 out-of-school children have returned to education since he took office, with the administration allocating at least 26% of its budget to educational initiatives.
In healthcare, Sani asserted that quality medical services should be accessible to all, stating that Kaduna is the only state to have elevated all its primary healthcare centers to level 2 status, staffed by qualified personnel. His administration has refurbished and equipped 16 out of 20 non-functional secondary healthcare facilities, and he invited President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate a major new 300-bed hospital.
Agriculture remains a primary economic driver in Kaduna, employing 60% of the workforce and contributing 43% of the state’s GDP. Sani revealed that the agricultural budget has skyrocketed from 1.4 billion Naira to 123 billion Naira since his administration began, far exceeding the Malabo Declaration’s recommendation to allocate 10% of state budgets to agriculture; Kaduna now dedicates 13%.
The governor claimed that the state leads Nigeria in the production of maize, tomatoes, and ginger. He highlighted efforts to support smallholder farmers through the distribution of 900 trucks of free fertilizer last year, with plans to assist an additional 240,000 farmers soon.
Furthermore, Sani announced that Kaduna State has become the first to launch a Special Agro-Processing Zone, which he believes will enhance the agriculture value chain significantly.
