Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has dismissed the Commissioner of Information, Professor Muhammad Sani-Bello, with immediate effect.
The announcement came via a statement released on Tuesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa.
In a swift administrative reshuffle, the governor named Ahmed Maiyaki, who previously served as the Managing Director of the Kaduna State Media Corporation, as the new Commissioner of Information. While no official reason was provided for the commissioner’s removal, Governor Sani expressed well wishes to Professor Sani-Bello, recognizing his service as the state’s pioneer Commissioner for Education.
Meanwhile, Governor Sani used the opportunity of a public event to praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the president has remained steadfast in fulfilling the promises made to northern Nigeria during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at a two-day interactive session on government-citizen relations organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Governor Sani acknowledged President Tinubu’s backing in confronting Kaduna State’s long-standing security challenges.
He highlighted improvements made under Tinubu’s administration in several sectors. “Across the domains of security, education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and inclusion—the pledges made by President Tinubu’s administration are being honoured through bold, tangible outcomes, adding that although more work remains and distances still lie ahead, the destination is in sight,” he said.
Reflecting on the dire situation when he took office in 2023, the governor recounted the insecurity that plagued the state. “Upon assuming office as governor in 2023, I was confronted with a Kaduna State under siege. Insecurity casts a long, dark shadow over our communities. Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime had become daily specters—from the Kaduna-Abuja expressway to Birnin Gwari, from Chikun to Igabi and across the uneasy corridors of southern parts of our dear state. Fear was rampant. Kaduna—long celebrated for its resilience and cultural vitality—was being slowly eroded by chaos,” he stated.
He further recalled the trauma that gripped the public consciousness following high-profile attacks. “The Kaduna-Abuja highway—once the vibrant artery of commerce and movement — had become a corridor of dread, a painful symbol of governmental failure. The Abuja-Kaduna train attack of 2022 remains seared into our collective consciousness as a grim testament to the depth of the security crisis. Entire communities were abandoned, markets shuttered, and Kaduna’s very spirit trembled under the weight of fear. Frankly, had we attempted to organise this conference under those conditions in May 2023, the hall would have been empty—or worse—rendered inaccessible by persistent insecurity.”
Governor Sani emphasized that the security crisis was not merely the result of armed violence, but stemmed from more deep-rooted social and structural issues. He described northern insecurity as “not only a failure of arms, but one born of exclusion, educational deprivation and policy neglect.”
What You Should Know
Governor Uba Sani’s decision to relieve Professor Muhammad Sani-Bello of his duties as Information Commissioner marks a significant administrative shift in Kaduna State.
His replacement, Ahmed Maiyaki, brings media experience to the role at a time when strategic communication is vital. Simultaneously, Governor Sani used a major public forum to commend President Bola Tinubu for aiding Kaduna’s recovery from a history of violent insecurity.
He painted a vivid picture of the state’s earlier turmoil, positioning recent federal interventions as crucial turning points. His remarks highlight the complex roots of northern Nigeria’s security crisis and the need for inclusive, long-term solutions.
