President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for his strides in peacebuilding, infrastructure development, and restoration of stability in the state.
During his official visit to Kaduna on Thursday, President Tinubu commissioned key projects including the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital in Millennium City, and 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to boost urban transport.
The President praised Governor Sani’s leadership, described him as “an agent of change, stability, love, unity, and progress,” while also promised federal government support for a proposed light rail project in Kaduna.
“I’m proud to say Kaduna is back again, and I am happy to work with you,” President Tinubu said, noted that the governor had transformed a previously volatile environment into a zone of peace and progress.
In a significant moment, the President conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on former Kaduna Military Governor and pro-democracy activist, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), correcting what he called an earlier omission during Democracy Day celebrations. Governor Sani was also recognized with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
President Tinubu thanked traditional rulers and stakeholders for supporting the administration’s peace efforts, added that the security situation in areas such as Birnin Gwari had drastically improved.
Governor Uba Sani, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the President for including N100 billion for Kaduna’s light rail project in the 2025 budget. He noted that the support of the Federal Government was instrumental in turning around the state’s security and development trajectory.
“When we assumed office in 2023, Kaduna was under siege,” Sani said. “Our villages were shadows of themselves, but we did not surrender. We understood that security is the foundation of development.”
Other dignitaries present included Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who praised Governor Sani for completing legacy projects, including the specialist hospital initiated nearly two decades ago.
Also in attendance were former Vice President Namadi Sambo, who lauded the completion of the hospital project; retired General Zamani Lekwot; and several serving governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), and Monday Okpebholo (Edo), among others.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were also in attendance.
