Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has called on traditional rulers to maintain their efforts in fostering peace and unity across the state, as he handed over 23 new vehicles to them during a ceremony on Sunday.
Speaking at the event, which took place at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, Governor Sani noted that the partnership between traditional institutions and security agencies has played a major role in improving safety in the state.
According to him, the effectiveness of the state’s non-kinetic (non-violent) strategy to deal with insecurity is largely due to this ongoing collaboration.
“They have been working day and night, sharing intelligence with security agents and ensuring that they are always close to our people at the community level. That is the reason why our non-kinetic approach towards addressing insecurity is working,” the governor said.
Governor Sani stated that traditional leaders remain vital to maintaining order at the grassroots level, and their input in local security matters has helped Kaduna State remain relatively peaceful. He noted that over the past two years, the state has not experienced any major ethno-religious or communal crisis.
He also praised the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for playing a key role in making the vehicle donation possible. “This is to motivate you, because we cannot achieve much without synergy between the traditional institution, religious leaders, community leaders, and the relevant security agencies in Kaduna State,” he said.
The vehicles are expected to support traditional rulers in carrying out their duties, especially in reaching remote parts of their domains. Governor Sani said this gesture is more than symbolic; it is a way of strengthening the connection between government, communities, and traditional institutions.
Reflecting on his time in the Senate, the governor noted that collaborative efforts had led to developmental projects worth over ₦20 billion being initiated in Kaduna.
A key example is the nearly completed Faculty of Engineering at Kaduna State University, a ₦12 billion initiative pushed by both the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, and Speaker Abbas.
“Despite the fact that we couldn’t complete it before we left the Senate, one of the sons of Kaduna State, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, is working closely with the Right Honourable Speaker to ensure that the project is completed. That is the synergy we are talking about,” Sani explained.
Speaker Abbas, during his remarks, said the SUV distribution is part of a larger plan to empower traditional rulers and improve governance in rural areas.
“These vehicles are not just for ceremonial purposes; they are meant to serve as essential working tools to aid our traditional rulers in reaching every part of their chiefdoms and emirates,” he said.
He also revealed plans to provide additional vehicles and renovate royal palaces across the state’s three senatorial zones, funded in the 2025 federal budget. Furthermore, Abbas shared that upcoming constitutional amendments would likely give traditional rulers an official role in the governance system starting in 2026.
“I want to assure you that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to carve out a prominent role for our traditional rulers beginning from 2026,” he stated.
