Kaduna: Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has attributed recent improvements in security across Northern Nigeria to sustained collaboration between federal authorities and local stakeholders. He highlighted the fragile nature of this progress without the full involvement of the region's elites.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the governor made these remarks at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation's two-day interactive programme in Kaduna. Sani recalled the dire security situation he inherited in May 2023, describing Kaduna as a state that was 'under siege' at the time. He noted that fear had permeated communities from the Kaduna Abuja expressway to Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, and the southern parts of the state, leading to shuttered markets and deserted villages.
The governor explained that military force alone could not resolve the crisis, prompting his administration to implement the Kaduna Peace Model. This approach blended proactive security measures, community engagement, and institutional collaboration. Sani emphasized that the strategy included support for security agencies, dialogue, local vigilance, and social investment, which, with the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, resulted in significant improvements.
Sani reported that these efforts led to dismantling criminal enclaves along the Kaduna to Abuja highway, reopening Birnin Gwari markets after over a decade, and resettling displaced communities in Chikun and Igabi. He acknowledged the Federal Government's support, commending the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Ministers of Defence, Service Chiefs, and other security stakeholders.
The governor stressed that the root causes of insecurity extended beyond armed conflict, citing poverty, illiteracy, and exclusion as underlying drivers. Sani urged Northern leaders to confront their roles in the region's longstanding security challenges, emphasizing that blaming the current administration for inherited problems would be misleading.
Sani concluded by calling on the region's elites to rise beyond political posturing and meaningfully contribute to peacebuilding, inclusion, and development. He stressed that security is a collective responsibility and that no president or governor can succeed in isolation, urging all to take ownership of the North's future.