By Mohammed Lawal Shehu
The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has expressed his gratitude to the people of Kaduna state for their unrelenting support and confidence reposed on the administration in the crucial first 100 days in office.
In Governor Sani’s first 100 days in office, his administration has taken several key interventions across security,health,education, infrastructure and rural development.
To mark this milestone,several activities were lined up and several projects cutting across the 7 pillars of the SUSTAIN manifesto were announced and commissioned.
With safety and security as the first pillar of the SUSTAIN manifesto, the Kaduna State Government in partnership with other security agencies commenced the training of 7,000 recruits of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS). The recruits were drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. This move to strengthen the Kaduna Vigilance Service to assist the police and other security agencies in the state in combating crime has been welcomed by all well-meaning citizens.
In efforts to upgrade infrastructure, the construction of 32 rural roads covering about 406km across our 23 Local Government Areas has commenced as part of efforts to transform our rural areas, a main policy thrust of this administration.
In health,state-of-the-art-mobile diagnostic trucks purchased by Kaduna State Government were commissioned and essential medical equipment are currently being distributed to our 290 Primary HealthCare Centres. The mobile trucks come fully-fitted with medical diagnostic equipment to render integrated health services in hard-to-reach and underserved communities across Kaduna state.
Similarly, a fully-equipped Women and Child Shelter at Katuru Road was commissioned ,to serve as a transit home for children and women who are subjected to violence abuse by offering them medical, psychosocial and legal support.
In continuation of activities marking the first 100 days in office, and as evidence of his commitment to education especially girl-child education, Governor Uba Sani commissioned a newly constructed/renovated 200-bed capacity hostel block, 16 classrooms, and a sickbay at the Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo, Kaduna North LGA.
The Governor to the delight of parents state-wide also performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 62 Junior and Secondary Schools across the state,where he used the opportunity to reiterate that in Kaduna state,primary and secondary education in state-owned schools is free.
In alignment with KDSG’s commitment to offer palliatives to cushion the effect of the general rising cost of living on our people and a renewed focus on education at all levels and,an announcement was made by the Kaduna State Government on the approval of a downward review of school fees currently charged in the following state-owned tertiary institutions : Kaduna State University, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, College of Education, Gidan Waya, Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi, and Kaduna State College of Nursing.
To address the housing deficit facing residents, the multi-million dollar Qatar-Sanabil Project has commenced the construction of the Kaduna Economic City and a Mass Housing Project for the Poor and Underserved located at Millennium City, Kaduna. The Qatar-Sanabil Project will impact positively on the lives of over 500,000 poor and vulnerable residents.
The project an outcome of the Governor’s strategic engagement with development partners,embassies and international corporations in his first 100 days in office also includes the construction of the Kaduna Economic City which will facilitate international trade,provide houses for the poor, clinics, shops, poultry farms, farmlands for rainy season and tools for irrigation farming.
The Mass Housing Project for the underserved and other vulnerable groups is a major contribution towards providing dignified shelter for the people. Scholarships will also be provided for orphans and children of the poor, and tools will be provided to the unemployed to empower them.
In response to the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and its resultant consequences, the state government set up a “Committee to Fashion Out Palliative Measures for Implementation by the State Government” comprising members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), IPMAN, NUPENG and PENGASSAN religious and community leaders, persons living with disabilities, and other Civil Society Organizations .
The recommendations submitted by Committee are currently being implemented. They are ; a palliative intervention to be implemented in 3 Phases:
The 1st Phase (Short Term) entails the distribution of food items to 210,000 vulnerable households.
The 2nd Phase (Medium Term) focuses on transportation and support to Holder Farmers, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs)
The 3rd Phase (Long Term) focuses on
the resuscitation of the Locomotive Train from Zaria to Kaduna and Sabon Tasha to Kafanchan to ease transportation for citizens.
In addition to signing his first Executive Order on Financial Inclusion,Governor Sani signed several bills into law namely
● A Law to Make Provisions for the Development of Tech-Enabled Start-Ups in Kaduna State, and Other Related Matters, 2023.
● A Law to Repeal the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency Law, No. 17 of 2015 and to Enact the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency Law, 2023 and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.
● A Law to Amend the Provisions Relating to Fines and Penalties in Laws of Kaduna State 2023.
● A Law to Make Provisions for Public Health in the State and for Other Related Purposes 2023.
● A Law to Provide for a Social Security Scheme in the State and for Connected Matters 2023.
Finally, to ensure continuity and excellence in all on-going and future public works and projects, the Committee to Determine the Status of Ongoing Projects and those in the Pipeline was created, the Committee has submitted its report to the Kaduna State Governor and the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee has commenced.
Again, to the people of Kaduna, the Governor of Kaduna State His Excellency Senator Uba Sani and the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Her Excellency Dr. Hadiza Sabina Balarabe, are immensely grateful for for the trust and confidence reposed in them.
The Kaduna State Government remains committed to fulfilling the promises made during the campaign season as captured in the SUSTAIN manifesto and with your support and cooperation, we shall make Kaduna State a model of peace,progress and development.
Mohammad Lawal Shehu is the Chief Press Secretary To Governor Uba Sani,
