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By Ismael Abdulahi
In a compelling lecture delivered at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, outlined a transformative vision for addressing Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity. Titled “The Role of State Governments in Overcoming Insecurity in Nigeria,” the address identified state-level interventions as the cornerstone of national stability.
Drawing from his administration’s experiences since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Uba Sani presented what can be described as a holistic panacea—a multifaceted remedy that integrates dialogue, development, and decentralized governance in combating banditry, terrorism, kidnappings, and communal conflicts. This approach, dubbed the Kaduna Peace Model, challenges the overreliance on federal military responses and emphasizes the proximity and agility of state governments in fostering lasting peace.
Governor Uba Sani began by underscoring the foundational role of government as a protector of citizens, echoing ancient justifications for state authority. He argued that insecurity in Nigeria is not merely a security issue but a symptom of deeper maladies: governance deficits, socioeconomic marginalization, and exclusionary politics. A purely militarized strategy, while essential, falls short without addressing these roots.
Instead, Governor Uba Sani advocated for state governments to lead as architects of peace, leveraging their closeness to communities to build trust, promote inclusion, and drive economic revival. This perspective reframes insecurity as a governance challenge, where states must transition from passive intermediaries to proactive innovators.
At the heart of Governor Uba Sani’s panacea is the Kaduna Peace Model, a homegrown framework implemented since 2023. When he took office, Kaduna was gripped by fear—villages abandoned, farms neglected, and schools shuttered due to rampant banditry and terrorism. Rather than despair, his administration adopted a philosophy that security entails not just the absence of violence but the presence of justice, opportunity, and mutual trust. The model rests on three pillars: coordinated dialogue, grassroots inclusion, and socioeconomic renewal.
Dialogue forms the bedrock. Governor Uba Sani’s team convened over 50 consultative forums involving traditional rulers, Fulani herders, farmers, youth leaders, and religious figures. These engagements revealed that grievances over identity, resources, and political exclusion fuel conflicts. To institutionalize this, Peace Councils were established at the senatorial district level, chaired by respected elders transcending ethnic and religious lines. These councils mediate disputes, prevent escalations, and promote reconciliation, complementing formal security forces rather than competing with them.
This bottom-up approach ensures that peace is cultivated organically within communities, reducing reliance on top-down enforcement.
Complementing dialogue is strengthened community policing. Governor Uba Sani’s administration empowered local vigilante groups with training, equipment, and communication tools, forging partnerships with federal agencies like the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). This synergy has yielded remarkable results: safety restored to farmlands, over 535 schools reopened, and livestock trade routes revived. By integrating communities into security efforts, the model builds a symbiotic relationship that enhances intelligence gathering and response times, addressing the limitations of centralized forces in vast, rural terrains.
Governor Uba Sani emphasized that peace without development is fragile, linking security directly to infrastructural and social investments. Since 2023, Kaduna has rehabilitated and constructed 85 roads spanning 785 kilometers in the first phase, with a second phase adding 50 more roads and bridges totaling 550 kilometers. These projects reconnect isolated communities to markets, symbolizing state presence and authority in vulnerable areas. Education has been prioritized as a pillar of stability: over 1,700 classrooms built or rehabilitated, 62 new secondary schools established, and tuition fees halved at tertiary institutions. Vocational training institutes in Rigachikun, Samaru Kataf, and Soba, certified by the National Board for Technical Education, offer skills in automotive mechatronics, carpentry, welding, solar installation, ICT, and more. The modernization of Panteka Market, Africa’s largest informal skills hub, has uplifted 38,000 apprentices. These initiatives have propelled Kaduna from 12th to 7th in WAEC rankings, with aspirations to reach first by 2027.
Healthcare reforms further bolster resilience. Over 1,100 Primary Healthcare Centres have been built or refurbished, with 255 upgraded to level two—the highest by any state. A 300-bed specialist hospital, named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, underscores commitment to world-class care. Transportation innovations, including 100 Compressed Natural Gas buses under a subsidized scheme (initially free for workers, students, and retirees), a Bus Rapid Transit system, and the upcoming Kaduna Light Rail, enhance mobility and economic participation while reducing environmental impact. Reforms to trailer parks and the Kaduna Line Transport Company, including debt clearance and digitization, improve efficiency and security in logistics.
Inclusive governance is another key element of Governor Uba Sani’s remedy. Kaduna’s diverse ethnic and religious makeup—Hausa, Fulani, Gwari, Kagoro, and others—has been leveraged as a strength. Rejecting favoritism, the administration promotes meritocracy and equal opportunity. An Interfaith Council, comprising Christian and Muslim leaders, meets quarterly to resolve grievances and foster trust, contributing to zero ethno-religious crises in the past two and a half years. Economic empowerment via a Financial Inclusion Strategy has integrated 2.5 million unbanked citizens into the formal economy, providing access to credit and reducing vulnerability to exploitation.
This model exemplifies cooperative federalism, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Sani praised the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and service chiefs for their collaboration, crediting it for revitalizing communities.
International recognition came in September 2025 when the UK revised its travel advisory for Kaduna from “Red” to “Amber,” signaling global confidence in the state’s progress and opening doors for investment.
Governor Uba Sani stressed the role of local governance in this panacea. With local governments gaining financial autonomy, Kaduna mandates chairmen and councilors to reside in their areas, enhancing intelligence gathering and reducing “ungoverned spaces.” The state’s Security Council now includes local chairmen and meets fortnightly for better coordination.
Traditional institutions bridge trust gaps, providing culturally resonant conflict resolution.
A pivotal component of Governor Uba Sani’s vision is the call for state police. He argued that Nigeria’s centralized policing is inadequate for diverse threats and urged constitutional amendments to establish state forces. As a former senator, he sponsored related bills and offers his expertise to sthe 10th National Assembly. Decentralized policing, he contends, is essential for a federated republic, ensuring localized, responsive security without threatening national unity.
In conclusion, Governor Uba Sani’s panacea offers a blueprint for Nigeria’s security woes: a shift from militarized reactions to state-led, inclusive strategies that intertwine peace with development. Kaduna’s transformation—from fear to flourishing—demonstrates that proximity-based governance, bolstered by federal and international support, can overcome entrenched challenges. By empowering states as frontline actors, Nigeria can foster social justice, economic opportunity, and unity. This model not only addresses immediate threats but builds resilient communities, proving that security is inseparable from good governance and human dignity. As Governor Uba Sani urged, it’s time for stakeholders to replicate this approach, ensuring a prosperous future for the nation.
•Abdulahi, a Public Affairs Analyst and Good Governance Campaigner, writes from Kaduna, Kaduna State
