By Atoyebi Nike
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has dismissed allegations that northern Nigeria is being sidelined under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that northerners occupy several top government positions.
“You can’t talk about marginalization when the Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and heads of Civil Defence and Immigration are northerners,” he told journalists after meeting with the President.
He also highlighted key ministries like Agriculture and Health, both led by northerners, adding, “The record speaks for itself.”
Sani stressed that northern Nigeria’s challenges—especially in education and security are historical and require collective action beyond government efforts.
Referencing a UNICEF report showing that 70–80% of Nigeria’s 18.5 million out-of-school children are in the North, he called on northern elites to invest more in education and poverty alleviation.
On development, he noted progress on a Kaduna light rail project and a new cancer centre, while confirming the release of ₦200 billion to complete the Abuja–Kaduna highway in eight months.
He also revealed that 7,000 vigilantes have been recruited to enhance local security, stating, “Security must go hand in hand with economic solutions.”
