Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has dismissed claims that northern Nigeria is marginalised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, affirming that northerners hold key positions and are fully represented in the national government.
Speaking to journalists at the State House over the weekend after his meeting with the President on Friday, Governor Sani dismissed the marginalisation narrative as “false” and called on stakeholders to concentrate on collaborative solutions to the region’s developmental challenges.
“You cannot be talking about marginalisation when the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chief of Army Staff are all from northern Nigeria. Even the heads of Civil Defence and Immigration are northerners. Agriculture, health—these are also led by northerners. The record speaks for itself”, Sani said.
Acknowledging the region’s socio-economic and security challenges, the governor emphasised that the issues are rooted in history and require a united, collective effort to address.
“The problems of northern Nigeria are deep-rooted. Government alone cannot fix them. We need unity among our leaders, business elites, religious groups, and civil society to drive change,” he stated.
He referenced the recent Arewa House summit held in Kaduna on July 29–30, describing it as “historic and commendable.”
The two-day interactive session held in Kaduna and organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation brought together over 80 top government officials serving under President Tinubu’s leadership
The meeting brought together about 80 government officials and a wide array of stakeholders—from academics and traditional rulers to market women and youth leaders—to deliberate on the region’s future.
“For the first time, such a diverse group met to take a holistic look at our challenges. We agreed, based on data, that no zone in the North is being marginalised”, Sani said.
On education and youth development, Governor Sani cited a 2023 UNICEF report which revealed that 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria, with 70 to 80 percent in the North.
“This is not a new problem. In 2019, the numbers were similar. We must change this trajectory with targeted interventions”, he explained.
He called on the North’s wealthy elite to step up and invest in resolving the region’s education and poverty crises.
“The richest man in Africa is from the North. Many of our top business leaders are northerners. We need their support, not just government efforts, to turn things around,” he said.
Governor Sani said he briefed the President on major developmental initiatives mentioning progress in transport infrastructure.
“We are working closely with the federal government on a light rail project to complement our BRT system, which began six months ago,” he said.
In healthcare, the governor revealed that construction has commenced on a cancer treatment centre at the state’s 300-bed Bolami Julio Specialist Hospital, following an agreement reached with President Tinubu during his recent visit to the state.
Providing updates on the Abuja–Kaduna road project, Sani confirmed that the Federal Executive Council has released ₦200 billion for its completion.
“Initially, the plan was to finish the road in 14 months, but with this new momentum, we aim to complete it within eight months,” he said.
Speaking on security concerns, the governor identified the recruitment of 7,000 local vigilantes, who he said have contributed significantly to intelligence gathering.
“Security is not just about military action. It also involves addressing the economic and social root causes of violence,” he stressed.
He concluded by reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to peace and development in the Northwest, emphasising that the government is determined to tackle insecurity through a comprehensive strategy that includes socio-economic upliftment.