***As Presidential Media Team visits
The Presidential Media Team, on a tour of federal government projects in Nigeria’s North-West, has commended the infrastructure development initiatives of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
The team, led by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, continued its inspection with visits to several federal and state government projects. These included the 35-kilometre Gadan-Gayam, Gwaraji, and Kujama roads linking 76 farming communities in Igabi, Kajuru, and Chikun Local Government Areas; the multi-billion-naira Skills Acquisition Centre; and the 300-bed capacity Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital.
Other members of the team included Mr Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications; Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties; Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and New Media; and Tope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
The tour, initiated by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors, also featured officials from the Federal Ministries of Transportation and Works, as well as Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement in the North-West.
Speaking at a state banquet for the team and over 50 journalists, Mr Onanuga described the transformation in Kaduna State as a clear reflection of improved funding to subnational governments under President Tinubu’s administration.
He noted that the scale and pace of infrastructural development across the state point to a deliberate and effective deployment of increased financial resources made available to states as a result of key fiscal reforms by the federal government.
He emphasised that Kaduna’s ongoing infrastructure revolution—as demonstrated in road construction, urban renewal, and public service upgrades—demonstrates how enhanced allocations to subnational governments are translating into tangible benefits for citizens.
“The administration of Governor Uba Sani has effectively leveraged these resources to address critical infrastructure gaps and improve the quality of life for residents,” Onanuga said.
“Governor Uba Sani has a history as a human rights activist and a fighter for democracy. What he has demonstrated today is that he was not just an armchair critic—given the opportunity, he pursues the public good.
“Some communities in Kaduna went without roads for two decades. Governor Uba Sani is now opening up the state and developing every part of it.
“When I return to Abuja, I will tell Mr President that the money his government has been giving to states is being put to work in Kaduna,” Onanuga added.
Governor Uba Sani urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against desperate moves by some opposition elements seeking to undermine the country’s democratic process.
The governor thanked the team for enlightening Nigerians about the extensive infrastructure revolution underway under President Tinubu’s administration, particularly in Kaduna. He called on Nigerians not to be swayed by “self-serving narratives” pushed by individuals and groups whose primary interest is gaining political power rather than contributing meaningfully to national development.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy, though still evolving, must be protected through collective responsibility and commitment to constitutional governance.
“Some of us lost our freedoms. We went to detention. We fought for this democracy. At that time, many journalists lost their freedoms—some even lost their lives.
“We’re talking about the likes of Bagauda Kaltho, Dele Giwa, and many others. I vividly remember a night here in Kaduna, with myself, Comrade Shehu Sani, and many other comrades, together with Bagauda Kaltho.
“In the middle of the meeting, some of us left for another meeting. Bagauda Kaltho went straight to the Durbar Hotel in Kaduna. An hour later, we learned that the military junta had killed him. It could have been any one of us.
He particularly commended Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare, and Tunde Rahman for their efforts to entrench democracy in Nigeria and for promoting the administration’s achievements.
“Many times, I see Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare writing rejoinders. Some people ask why, but they may not understand the answer. People must realise that we had many sleepless nights in the past, fighting for democracy.
The tour continued with a visit to the Kaduna-Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Maradi Railway line.
Mr Abdullahi Yakubu, the Project Desk Officer for the Kaduna-to-Kano section at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, said the section has reached 68 per cent completion.
Yakubu explained that steady progress has been made across multiple segments of the rail line, reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the nation’s transportation network.
“A significant portion of the remaining work is concentrated on a major bridge connecting Rigasa to the Afaka-Mando axis, which forms a crucial stretch of the route linking Kaduna to Zaria. Completing this bridge is key to ensuring seamless rail connectivity along the corridor. Work is progressing in line with project timelines.
He said the rail line covers 203 kilometres from Kaduna to Kano, with an expected completion date of December 2026.
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