From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has presented a budget proposal of N790 billion for the year 2025, which prioritises critical sectors like infrastructure, human capital development, security and agriculture.
Governor Sani pointed out that N206.6 billion has been allocated to education, representing 26.14 percent of the budget proposal.
He said the 2025 draft budget represents a bold commitment to the future of Kaduna State.
Presenting the draft budget at the chambers of House of Assembly, he said his administration adopted a conservative but strategic approach to resource allocation, given the prevailing financial headwinds.
He disclosed that the budget earmarks N553 billion for capital expenditure while N237 billion is for recurrent expenditure.
“The capital allocation reflects our continued focus on infrastructure, with particular emphasis on rural roads, healthcare facilities, education infrastructure, and housing projects. We have deliberately focused on projects that will have lasting impacts on the economic wellbeing of our citizens.
“This will fund the construction of new schools, the rehabilitation of existing ones, the recruitment and capacity development of teachers, and the provision of learning materials,” he said.
The health sector got N127 billion, which is 16.07 percent . He explained that the amount would be used “to upgrade our healthcare facilities, procure medical equipment, and expand our mobile healthcare services, ensuring that no community is left behind in access to quality healthcare.’’
He said N106 billion, which is 13.14 percent has been earmarked for infrastructure, adding that the administration would focus on completion of ongoing road construction, rural electrification, water supply and other critical public works across the state.’
He said N74 billion or 9. 36 percent would be devoted to agriculture, promising, “we will invest in agricultural innovation, providing support for smallholder farmers, promoting agro-processing, and expanding irrigation projects.’’
According to him, N11.2 billion has been allocated for security to enhance “the capacity of our state security agencies, purchasing equipment, and supporting community policing efforts.’’
Governor Sani also said social welfare has been allocated N9.8 billion or 1.24 percent of next year’s budget, to cover “the expansion of social safety nets, including support for the elderly, women and children under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, and other social intervention programmes targeted at the poor and vulnerable, to be conducted by the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.’’
The Governor said: “It s a reflection of our determination to drive inclusive development, create jobs, improve infrastructure, and invest in the people of Kaduna State. We remain steadfast in our resolve to build a state that is safe, prosperous, and equitable for all.’’
The Governor emphasised that “the budget process has been consultative, and we have engaged widely with the people of Kaduna State to ensure that the budget reflects their aspirations, addresses their concerns, and lays a solid foundation for a long-term development.
He thanked the legislators and all stakeholders for their contributions and support, adding, “the feedback from the town hall meetings, engagements with civil society groups, and inputs from various sectors, have been invaluable in shaping the framework of the 2025 draft budget.’’
While urging the House of Assembly to give the budget the necessary support it deserves, he promised that they would work together to turn the plans into reality.
“The 2025 fiscal year will be a year of transformation, and with your cooperation, we shall continue to make Kaduna State a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
The Governor also highlighted his administration’s achievements in 2024 in the areas of safety and security, upgrading of infrastructure, housing development, trade and investment, agriculture, human capital development, health and social welfare.
On safety and security, he said that the government has recruited and trained 7,000 personnel of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) to enhance security across the state.
“We distributed 150 Hilux security vehicles and 500 patrol motorcycles to all security operatives in the state. We constructed the maiden Kaduna State Forensic Laboratory and Training Centre,” he added.
The governor said his administration has “recorded major milestones in the conflict-impacted Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Kachia, Kajuru and Kagarko LGAs.”
“Through the efforts of the Peace Dialogue Group, established by the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with federal agencies and security services, peace has returned to Birnin Gwari.
“I was in Birnin Gwari on Thursday, November 28, to reopen the famous and strategic Kara Livestock Market, thus signalling the commencement of commercial activities. The long abandoned Birnin Gwari Road is now back to life.’’
He said Kaduna State was partnering with local and international investors to frontally address our housing deficit, adding “we have successfully reduced housing deficit in the state through the development of 300 housing units at Millennium City, Kaduna.
“The first phase of the construction of mass housing for the less privileged at Kaduna Economic City is about 95 percent completed. This project is a partnership between Qatar Charity and the Kaduna State Government,’’ he said.
Governor Sani disclosed that his government had attracted over $503 million worth of actualised investments to the State. Among them are four Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), namely Sunagrow International Oil Ltd for the construction of $50 Soya Bean Oil Refining Plant, StarAgric West Africa Ltd for the establishment of the Kaduna Agri-Market System Initiative, Qatar Sanabil Kaduna Economic City Project, and Ming Xing Lithium Processing Plant.
“We are finalising arrangements for the commencement of the Special Agricultural Processing Zone (SAPZ), a partnership between the Kaduna State Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB).”
He disclosed that the Kaduna State Government, through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency (KADEDA), has supported 8,649 nano and micro businesses with grants to expand their business operations.
The Governor said: “The support ranged from N300,000, N200,000, N150,000, N100,000, to N50,000. The A Kori Talauchi programme, led by the Kaduna State Government, empowered 4,912 underserved women across the state.
“In the second phase of palliative distribution, 128 trucks of rice and maize were distributed. A total of N4.2 billion in cash was distributed to the less privileged. N6.6 Billion was spent on payment of pension and gratuities, as well as death benefits.
“The State Government provided relief materials to over 40,000 Internally Displaced Persons across Kaduna State under the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA). Five hundred women, youths and food vendors were trained on briquettes making to reduce the use of charcoal and other carbon related fuel,” he added