By ADAM PAMUK

Service to humanity is the best of life’, says the ending part of the Junior Chambers International, JCI, Creed. And it seems that only few public servants in the country understand and live that statement like Kaduna State governor, Sani Uba. Recently, Sani accompanied President Bola Tinubu on a state visit to China to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, Summit with the theme, ‘Joining hands to advance Modernisation and Build High-level China-Africa Community with shared Future.’ 

As Chief Marketer of the state, the governor’s mission in China was to see how Kaduna and China can symbiotically benefit each other. And one outcome from the trip is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Huawei Technologies Limited for the establishment of the Kaduna Smart City Project. The deal was signed at the company’s headquarters by Governor Sani for Kaduna State and Chris Lu, the CEO of Huawei Technologies and witnessed by President Tinubu and others.

“The ultimate goal is the establishment of a safer and smarter Kaduna State,” said Governor Sani on his Facebook page while announcing the MOU.

“As the strategic partner of the Kaduna State Government, Huawei will provide comprehensive leading solutions and professional technical support for Kaduna State in the following areas: (i) State-Level Unified Command Centre (ii) Enhanced Security (iii) Intelligent Traffic System (iv) E-Government and Office Automation (v) Smart Education (vi) Smart Healthcare (vii) ICT Talent (viii) Renewable Energy, and (ix) Public Transportation.

“The Kaduna State Government and Huawei will establish a joint committee to flesh out details of the Implementation Plan, Funding Arrangement, and the Technology to be Deployed. We want to ensure that the project is deliverable, sustainable, and valuable.”

Recently, Kaduna State, in partnership with Urban Shelter, broke ground in the construction of a 200-hectare housing project in the New Millennium City. Under the agreement, Urban Shelter would develop 25 hectares of the initiative which aims to address the state’s housing deficit. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the governor, said the partnership with the private sector to deliver affordable housing is a major focus of his administration.

“Our collaboration with both local and international investors has been pivotal in addressing our housing challenges head-on,” said Sani. He then added: “I commend Urban Shelter for recognising the potential of Kaduna State and prioritising it in its investment strategy. Your commendable efforts in developing over 25 hectares of land in the Millennium City, both Phase I and II, have paved the way for this new 200 hectares housing project under a Development Lease Agreement with the Kaduna State government. I encourage both local and international investors to seize the immense opportunities available in Kaduna State’s housing sector. We extend not just an invitation but a firm assurance that your investments will be supported by a robust policy framework and steadfast commitment from our government.”

Concerning healthcare, the Sani administration, on September 2, 2024, began the reconstruction of nine abandoned general hospitals in the state. “This ambitious initiative has carefully selected three General Hospitals from each Senatorial Zone to benefit equitably from the upgrades,” said  Acting Special Adviser to Governor Sani on Project Monitoring, Implementation, and Results Delivery, Dr. Ahmed Abdullahi, in a statement.

“The following hospitals have been earmarked for this vital project in their respective zones:Zone 1:General Hospital Ikara, General Hospital Maigana, Soba LGA; General Hospital Saminaka, Lere LGA; Zone 2:General Hospital Rigasa, Igabi LGA. General Hospital Giwa, Giwa LGA; General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Chikun LGA; General Hospital Gwantu, Sanga LGA; Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Hospital, Kafanchan, Jema’a LGA; and General Hospital Kachia, Kachia LGA.” .

It’s sad that hospitals were abandoned for up to 20 years but it’s also good that they are getting a new lease of life. Now, Kaduna residents would have more points to access healthcare. Please, where had Sani been all these while.

Though he is not whining, it has not been a bed of roses for the administration given the claim that the state’s finances were in a mess when he took over. “Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion and N115 billion contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna state towards progress and sustainable development,” he said in an April 2024 town hall meeting, and revealed that as governor, Kaduna has “not borrowed a single kobo” under his watch. He also revealed that after deducting N7.2 billion for debt servicing, Kaduna only gets N3.6 billion from federal allocation.

But such challenges have not deterred Sani. He is laser-focused on devoting all efforts and resources towards growing the state. Now, 16 months into his administration, the state is witnessing a constant rehauling, overhauling and streamlining of governance for maximum benefits. And to his testament, under him, the state has continued to block leaks while opening up to attract more commerce and boost revenue.

Within 11 months in office, he built 62 secondary schools and 2,347 classrooms in primary schools to accommodate the nearly 500, 000 out-of-school children in the state. To mark his one year in office, Governor Sani launched ‘A Koma Gona’ (Get Back to Farm), a scheme in which 40,000 smallholder farmers in 23 local government areas got farm inputs, farm implements and agro-processing equipment. And in July 2024, Kaduna partnered with two companies – UK-based Jupiter Lithium Ltd and US-based ReElement Technologies Corporation – in the quest to prospect for and process Lithium. The state in partnership with the Old Panteka Market Development Association, OPMDA, also began the remodelling of the famous Panteka Market to become a technology hub of repute. And in February 2024, Kaduna aided 4,000 Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the state with N4.2 billion palliative. The state also intensified efforts on ensuring dams provide water for farmers, while the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency began constructing boreholes in Kubau and Makarfi local government areas to increase water supply in rural areas. These are just some of the things the Sani-administration has done.

Upon assuming office in May 2023, in addition to having salaries and allowances slashed, Sani declared that himself, his deputy, as well as commissioners and advisers would not get new official cars because of the state’s poor finances. Well, common sense dictates that rather than deploy scarce resources into procuring vehicles, Kaduna would be better off having those funds invested in capital and public goods. And 16 months later, this decision has not impeded the dynamics of governance but rather ensured resources are deployed to more crucial areas of need. Economics 101.

And unlike some other governors, Sani just wants to focus more on the 76 per cent of Kaduna residents in rural areas that are poor.

“Even if we get some small money, I will use it to construct roads in rural areas so that our rural farmers will have roads to take their farm produce to the market,” he said at the April town hall. The gesture tells a lot about a man that wants to ensure more of his people quickly get the better things governance can offer. It is the kind of thoughts and acts – service to humanity – that other state governors should learn from. Kudos to Governor Uba Sani.

*Pamuk, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Kaduna