Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has said the root causes of the security challenges of banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest region are poverty and unemployment.
During a visit by the Kaduna State Elders Forum on Monday, Governor Sani underscored the need to address the high number of out-of-school children.
He asserted, the best way to tackle the challenges is through good governance.
He explained that the insecurity in the North-West is an economic problem where people kidnap and demand for money, attributing hopelessness, lack of education, lack of economic prosperity as also responsible.
“The problem of the North West is lack of education and financial exclusion. Over 85 per cent of the people in the North West are either not educated or financially excluded. So, there is poverty. If we don’t address the poverty by supporting our farmers and increasing productivity, we will not address the problem of insecurity.”
He highlighted the pivotal role of good governance, saying, “So, we need to look at the issue of good governance; good governance is key. Many states in the North-West, including Kaduna, have a large number of out-of-school children, which is unacceptable. Even access to healthcare, which is not a privilege but a right, is poor.”
Governor Sani also acknowledged the military’s commitment to intensifying actions against banditry. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army, and the Chief of Air Staff have assured him of their support. Two Forward Operation Bases (FOB) are set to be established in Kaduna, one in Southern Kaduna (Zangon Kataf) and the other in Birnin Gwari, within the next three weeks.
The Kaduna Elders’ Forum, led by General Zamani Lekwot (rtd) and Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, congratulated the Governor on his electoral victory, commending his approach to developing rural areas, which is already yielding positive results.
