By Matthew Denis
The Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Uba Sani, has commended the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) for its role in regulating and setting professional standards, including training and development programs, to enhance the skills and knowledge of transport professionals, paving the way for increased investment in the transport sector.
The Governor made the remarks during his opening address as Chairman at the 7th National Conference of CIOTA in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said, “I’m proud of CIOTA for their professional activities, which are shaping the transport sector for investors to commit their funds into the industry.”
Governor Sani added that the institute provides a platform for transport professionals and business owners to network, share ideas, and collaborate on industry issues.
Speaking on his administration’s achievements in Kaduna State, he said:
“The first act in this story has been the roads revolution: whereas only 30 per cent of our 23 local government areas previously had truly motorable roads, we have since launched 85 urban and rural roads spanning 785 kilometres, with nearly half already completed.”
He further highlighted the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) system.
“We unveiled the KBRT—the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and only the second in the country after Lagos. This initiative, a partnership between the State Government and the Agence Française de Développement, features a dedicated 24-km corridor from Rigachikun to Sabon Tasha, supported by over 30 billion naira in counterpart funding.
“With 120 articulated buses powered by compressed natural gas, we expect a 38 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel-cost savings of approximately 1.8 billion naira annually. The ripple effect on employment will be profound: 3,200 direct roles and over 11,000 indirect opportunities across ICT, security, retail, maintenance, and allied services,”he added.
He also spoke on ongoing projects: “In March 2025, we broke ground for our modern interstate bus terminal at Kakuri, Kaladu South, consolidating previously dispersed and unregulated motor parks into a regulated hub. With operations already 75 per cent completed, this terminal will raise internally-generated revenue, enforce regulatory control, and create thousands of jobs, ushering in a safer and more efficient transport network.”
On the Kaduna Light Rail project, Governor Sani said: “Our vision extends to rail: the Kaduna Light Rail, now at an advanced stage, will be rolled out in phases. Phase 1 revives the Rigachikun-Sabon Tasha corridor; Phase 2 links Millennium City to the Abuja-Kaduna rail, restoring around 50 kilometres of strategic transit.
“We are also upgrading and digitising trailer parks at Tafa and Maraban Jos with private investors, each designed to accommodate 500 trucks to unlock revenue, reduce accidents, relieve congestion, and improve efficiency for long-haul operators. In 2023, we identified over 50 illegal motor parks and relocated operations to the newly built Mando Motor Park while tasking security and regulatory agencies with ongoing inspections.”