Kaduna Governor highlights role of communities in tackling insecurity
By Obasola Olatunde
In a compelling lecture delivered at the Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has called for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, urging communities, state governments to take a leading role in building peace through inclusive governance, grassroots engagement, and socio-economic development
Speaking on the theme “The Role of State Governments in Overcoming Insecurity in Nigeria,” Governor Sani declared that insecurity cannot be defeated by military might alone, stressing that sustainable peace must be cultivated through justice, opportunity, and mutual trust at the community level.
“Security is not merely the absence of violence but the presence of justice, opportunity, and mutual trust. Peace cannot be imposed; it must be cultivated from within communities,” the governor asserted to a packed audience of diplomats, scholars, and policy experts at the NIIA Conference Chamber, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Governor Sani unveiled what he described as the Kaduna Peace Model a homegrown strategy that integrates dialogue, community inclusion, and development as tools to tackle insecurity.
Upon assuming office in 2023, he said Kaduna was engulfed by banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence, leaving many communities deserted and economic life paralyzed.
Rather than relying solely on force, Sani’s administration adopted a multi-layered approach that established Peace Councils across senatorial districts, bringing together traditional rulers, herders, farmers, youth, and religious leaders to resolve conflicts before they escalate.
“We convened over fifty consultative forums that engaged diverse stakeholders. These dialogues underscored one truth sustainable peace is inseparable from inclusion and participation,” he said.
The Kaduna Governor emphasized the success of community policing initiatives, which strengthened cooperation between local vigilantes and federal security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, and NSCDC.
This, he said, has restored safety to rural communities, reopened over 535 schools, and revived agricultural and trade activities once crippled by bandit attacks.
He also praised the creation of the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the first of its kind in Nigeria, to coordinate state-level security operations and manage the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund, which provides logistics and funding for security interventions.
Sani linked peace to development, announcing sweeping infrastructural and social investments aimed at restoring stability.
His administration has rehabilitated 85 roads covering over 785 kilometers, revived the moribund Kaduna State Transport Company (KSTC), introduced 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, and initiated the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) the first in Northern Nigeria.
The state is also constructing three major transit parks and 50 modern markets to boost commerce and create jobs.
In education, Kaduna has climbed from 12th to 7th place in WAEC rankings within two years, and in healthcare, the government has built or refurbished over 1,100 Primary Health Centres, upgrading 255 to Level 2 the highest by any state.
A new 300-bed Specialist Hospital named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also commissioned to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Governor Sani highlighted his administration’s efforts to foster unity in Kaduna’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society through interfaith dialogue and inclusive governance.
The state has established an Interfaith Council, comprising Christian and Muslim leaders, to promote peace, mutual understanding, and proactive conflict prevention.
“We have consciously rejected ethnic and religious favouritism. Our governance is rooted in meritocracy, accountability, and equal opportunity,” he said.
He further revealed that women and youth empowerment remain central to his peace strategy, citing the Kaduna Women Empowerment Fund (KADWEF) and the Kaduna Youth Empowerment Programme (KAD-YEP), which provide training, start-up funds, and interest-free loans to entrepreneurs.
Governor Sani commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting state-led security initiatives and promoting national security reforms. He also lauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for enhancing intelligence sharing and collaboration between federal and state authorities.
“The success of the Kaduna Peace Model is proof that state governments are not helpless. They can and must play decisive roles in overcoming insecurity,” he stressed.
The governor concluded by urging the Federal Government to empower state governments constitutionally and financially to complement national security architecture, arguing that the fight against insecurity “must begin from the bottom up.”
“The legitimacy of the state rests on its ability to protect its people. Peace is not just the absence of war it is the foundation upon which development, unity, and prosperity are built,” he concluded to a standing ovation.