Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State says poverty and economic exclusion are the primary drivers of insecurity in northern Nigeria. Speaking during a Channels Television interview, Sani warned that unless these root causes are addressed holistically, the region would remain vulnerable to unrest.
“I came from the trenches. I fought successive governments in the past, during the military era. I went to detention a few times, fighting for justice and equality,” he said, linking his experience to the urgency of tackling long-standing structural issues.
The governor said his administration took a data-driven approach from day one, drawing on insights from his tenure as chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking. According to Sani, financial exclusion affects over 60% of people in the North-West, creating fertile ground for banditry and violence.
“This problem of insecurity, I can tell you, is largely an economic issue — poverty, unemployment. That is the reason why our people can easily be recruited by these bandits,” he said.
On education, the governor disclosed that over 350,000 children were out of school when he assumed office. He revealed that recent partnerships with institutions like the World Bank and UNICEF are gradually yielding results. “Out of the 18.2 million out-of-school children today, the North is responsible for about 70% of that number,” he added.
Despite modest gains, Sani admitted the crisis will take years to reverse. “Things are getting better, but nobody can tell you we can address this problem even in the next ten years… We did not approach the issue holistically. We had the opportunity to push in the past — but we didn’t do it,” he stated.
He called on Northern leaders to unite around a common agenda. “We cannot win insecurity through a kinetic approach, nor through giving people palliatives. We must look at the drivers and symptoms.”
The governor also pointed to stark infrastructural, educational, and healthcare deficits as key obstacles to regional stability. He said Kaduna has seen fewer farmer-herder and religious clashes in recent years but stressed that long-term peace hinges on equity. “People will only believe in the government when there is justice and fairness,” he concluded.
What you should know
Governor Uba Sani argues that insecurity in Northern Nigeria is rooted in economic deprivation, not just violence.
He urges long-term structural reforms over short-term interventions like palliatives or force.
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