……………..Government says improved security has restored farming and eased travel between Kaduna and Abuja.
The Kaduna State Government says it has recovered more than 500,000 hectares of land previously controlled by bandits across the state.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this on Sunday during a gala night organised for members of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The journalists were in Kaduna for their 2026 retreat, themed, “2027 General Elections: Navigating Legal, Security and Ethical Challenges in the Media.”
Maiyaki said the land recovery followed improved security under Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
“I’m happy to tell you that the present administration under the able leadership of Governor Uba Sani has, within the past three years, recovered over 500,000 hectares of land from bandits,” he said.
Security improves farming, travel
The commissioner said insecurity had previously prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands.
He added that bandit activities also forced some travellers to stop using the Kaduna-Abuja route.
According to him, the security situation has now improved significantly, making such disruptions less common.
Maiyaki said the state government would continue prioritising security because it remains essential to development.
Kaduna distributes fertiliser to 150,000 farmers
The commissioner also disclosed that the government distributed 500 trucks of fertiliser free of charge to more than 150,000 farmers during the 2026 farming season.
He said the state distributed 400 trucks in 2024 and another 500 trucks in 2025.
The government distributed another 500 trucks in 2026 as part of efforts to increase food production.
Out-of-school children reduced
On education, Maiyaki said the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna had dropped from 550,000 to 187,000.
He also highlighted the government’s transportation intervention through compressed natural gas buses.
According to him, the state purchased 100 CNG buses in July 2025 to transport students and civil servants at cheaper fares.
Maiyaki claimed the buses had transported at least 3.5 million people since their introduction.
He added that the scheme had saved commuters about ₦3.8 million, while the Nigeria Labour Congress reportedly confirmed workers had saved 40 per cent of their income.
The chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale, appreciated the Kaduna State Government for organising the gala night.
