Community-led security recovers over 500,000 hectares of farmland in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has credited its localized security framework with restoring agricultural productivity, noting that more than 500,000 hectares of farmland have been reclaimed from criminal elements over the past three years.

Speaking during a gala night hosted by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel at its annual retreat in Kaduna, the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, explained that rural communities had previously faced severe threats that crippled farming activities.

He noted that the adoption of community-based security strategies and early warning systems has fundamentally altered the security landscape, enabling farmers to return safely to their lands.

According to Maiyaki, the administration’s approach extends beyond conventional military operations by actively integrating traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and local stakeholders into threat prevention.

He revealed that out of 75 potential security threats identified between 2023 and early 2026, 70 were successfully neutralized before escalating into communal or religious crises.

The Commissioner highlighted that improved stability has driven significant fiscal commitment to the agricultural sector, with budget allocations jumping from ₦1.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦100 billion in 2026.

This financial boost has facilitated free fertilizer distribution, helping maize yields surge from roughly three bags per hectare to as high as 22 bags.

The Commissioner also linked the revival of farming to infrastructural development, noting that road construction and rehabilitation across 12 local government areas have streamlined the transport of agricultural produce to major markets.

Emphasizing that security remains the bedrock of sustainable development, he asserted that the state’s governance metrics are measured directly by tangible improvements in the daily lives of residents.