President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday said Kaduna has transformed from a toxic and insecure state to a hub of peace and development under Governor Uba Sani.
The president spoke before inaugurating a fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) mass transit buses in Kaduna.
Projects commissioned by President Tinubu in Kaduna include; the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development located in Rigachikun, Soba and Samarun Kataf; the 300-bed hospital; the 24 km Kafanchan Township Road; the Tudun Biri Road; the 22 km road linking Kauru and Kubau local government areas; the Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri; and 100 CNG buses, among other legacy projects executed by Senator Uba Sani.
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The president also lauded governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their unity and support for his administration.
“Let me first recognise all of you governors collectively; thank you very much for the sign of solidarity, support and unity,” he said.
“Yesterday, many of you were present in Benue, condoling and sympathising with the people of Benue.
“Today, you are all here, and we’ve seen a governor, Uba Sani — an agent of change, stability, love, unity and progress.”
President Tinubu, who hailed the governor’s performance, said his leadership had changed the outlook of the state.
“Uba Sani has performed wonders and changed the environment from a previous toxic, uncontrollable environment to a state of life, progress, and development,” he said.
“You are a good leader, and I am very happy to have to work with you. I think I am a lucky president.”
The president recalled the security challenges during his last visit to the state in 2022, saying the situation had drastically improved.
“I am particularly impressed with the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in this state; this is sharply in contrast with the tense and toxic atmosphere when I visited this state in the year 2022,” he said.
“To get to Birnin-Gwari Local Government for the electioneering campaign, we almost had to move an entire battalion.”
Tinubu said he had been reliably informed that peace had returned to the area.
“I have it on good authority that you can move to Birni Gwari today around midnight, without fear of attack,” he said.
“Peace is the hallmark of development. That is why you are able to channel a vision that is sharp and yielding results.”
President Tinubu also announced plans to unveil a comprehensive national framework for skills development and food security, as part of his administration’s strategy to tackle youth unemployment and strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience.
He commended Governor Sani for investing in human capital development.
“The skills development initiative we jointly commissioned today is an example that the nation should follow,” Tinubu said.
“We will soon launch a comprehensive national agenda on skills development, as well as a plan for food sovereignty.” he said.
According to him, Kaduna has set the pace in demonstrating how state-led initiatives can align with federal goals.
“This government, under Governor Uba Sani, has not only established a critical centre to train and develop the minds of our youths, but also invested in live-in schools that nurture our children and equip them with skills and opportunities to excel,” he noted.
He added that food security would form a major part of the upcoming national development agenda.
The president praised the Kaduna State government’s forward-thinking policies and reaffirmed federal support for its developmental agenda, especially those that prioritise youth and economic empowerment.
“Kaduna is rising again, and we will work with you in every aspect of your developmental vision. Together, we will achieve progress and prosperity,” Tinubu said.
He also urged other state governors to take a cue from Kaduna’s model, describing it as “People-oriented, results-driven, and visionary.”
Tinubu confers CFR on Dangiwa
In Kaduna, President Tinubu conferred the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on retired Colonel Umar Dangiwa for his courageous roles in the fight for democracy during the June 12 struggle.
The president, who apologised to him, said his name was mistakenly omitted during his June 12 Democracy Day broadcast.
He also praised Shehu Sani, calling him “A comrade who has done so much for democracy in this country” and affirmed that the CON honour conferred on him was well-deserved.
President Tinubu further promised to continue with the Light Rail Project in the state. “I want to particularly highlight the Light Rail Project. It remains a focus for our administration, and we are committed to completing it.
“The projects I have just mentioned are well-thought-out and laudable. They reflect the type of leadership our nation needs,” he said.
Gov Sani names 300-bed hospital after President Tinubu
Governor Sani named the newly commissioned 300-bed ultramodern hospital in Kaduna after President Tinubu in recognition of his bold economic reforms and commitment to national development.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the governor said the gesture was a tribute to the president’s leadership style, which is anchored on tough but necessary decisions to reshape Nigeria’s economic and political landscape.
Governor Sani emphasised that the hospital represented more than just a healthcare facility but a broader social contract aimed at restoring dignity and opportunity to the people of Kaduna State.
On education, Sani noted that his administration has constructed 62 new secondary schools, built 722 classrooms, and renovated over 1,000 others in efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state by half.
The governor also used the platform to underscore his philosophy of inclusive governance, affirming that Kaduna now stands as an example of unity in diversity.
“When I took the oath of office, I vowed to govern Kaduna as one united family – Muslims and Christians, Hausa and Atyap, Bajju and Fulani. Whether APC, PDP, Labour Party or any other, we are one Kaduna,” he stressed.
Governor Sani concluded by thanking President Tinubu for his support to the people of Kaduna State and Northern Nigeria.
He also thanked the president for appointing sons of the state with federal appointments, assuring him that Kaduna State would remain a dependable partner in implementing federal reform agendas and delivering democratic dividends to the people.
He also assured the president of the state support come 2027 general elections.
New hospital will reverse medical tourism – Ex VP Sambo
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo commended President Tinubu and Kaduna State governor for completing and commissioning the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, describing it as a major milestone in reversing outbound medical tourism in Nigeria.
Sambo, who initiated the multi-billion naira hospital project over a decade ago during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State, said the facility symbolised a turning point in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
He said the hospital will serve as a world-class centre capable of reducing the billions of dollars Nigerians spend annually seeking medical treatment abroad.
He called on President Tinubu to approve the addition of a new cancer treatment centre within the facility, a move he said would enhance its capacity to handle complex health conditions locally.
Despite the accomplishment, Sambo raised concern over the hospital’s power needs, urging President Tinubu to order the completion of the nearly finished 250MW thermal power plant nearby, abandoned for over a decade.
Tight security in Kaduna
Security was beefed up across Kaduna metropolis before the arrival of President Tinubu.
Daily Trust observed a heavy presence of armed security personnel, including the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Kaduna State Traffic Enforcement Authority (KASTELEA), stationed along major roads in the city.
At the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, security was equally heightened with armed police officers and Civil Defence operatives maintaining vigilance, their patrol vehicles parked strategically within the premises.
The Murtala Square, where the president commissioned the state’s new transportation scheme, was cordoned off and surrounded by security operatives. Roads leading to the venue were taken over by various security agencies, with motorists advised to use alternative routes.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Ibraheem Musa, announced a temporary restriction of movement around the project commissioning sites and surrounding roads.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, said Kaduna State has set a new national standard in technical and vocational education, declaring it the benchmark for other states in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of the Kaduna State Skills Development Initiative, Prof. Bugaje commended Governor Sani’s visionary leadership, describing the project as a first-of-its-kind effort in Nigeria’s education sector.
“Kaduna is now leading other states in Nigeria in skills development,” he said. “It is one of only two states with a State Council on Skills, chaired by the governor himself. That level of commitment is unmatched.”
The initiative includes the establishment of three new world-class technical institutes across the state’s senatorial zones Rigachikun, Zangon Kataf, and Soba. Bugaje noted that no polytechnic or university of technology in the country currently possesses the kind of cutting-edge facilities and equipment planned for these institutes.
“These centres will not just train, but empower our youth with practical, demand-driven skills that align with industry needs,” he stated. “They will serve as a beacon of hope for young people across Kaduna State.”
In his remarks, House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas commended the president for his support to the state.
The speaker further assured the president that the state will produce higher votes for him come 2027 more than that of the 2023 elections.
Abbas also commended the president for reawarding the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria- Kano Road as well as the establishment of the University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Southern Kaduna
Angry youth touched president’s billboard in Rigachikun
Reports have it that some angry youths in Rigachikun community along Kaduna-Zaria highway brought down a billboard of President Tinubu to protest against his visit to the state.
Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened shortly after the president had commissioned the skills acquisition centre in the community.
It was gathered that the angry youths destroyed the billboard with the pictures of the president and Governor Sani placed directly opposite the acquisition centre.
A resident of Rigachikun Sule who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust said the president and other dignitaries had already left the venue when the youths mostly teenagers destroyed the billboard.
“Yes, it happened shortly after the president and other top officials left the venue after commissioning the centre,” he simply said.
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