The Kaduna State Government has issued a stern rebuttal to recent claims by former governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of attempting to distort facts regarding projects commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his recent visit to the state.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, the government described El-Rufai’s assertions in a televised interview as “bare-faced lies” and “a blatant distortion of the truth.”
According to the statement, El-Rufai had falsely claimed that all the projects inaugurated by President Tinubu were conceived under his administration. The state government, however, clarified that the three key projects commissioned—the Institutes of Vocational Training and Skills Development, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, and 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses—were either fully executed or completed under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership.
“The facts are clear and verifiable. Governor Uba Sani has succeeded where others faltered. No amount of revisionism can rewrite the truth,” the statement emphasized.
The vocational training institutes—located in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru Kataf—are entirely new initiatives launched by Governor Sani to empower youth with practical skills. They are projected to graduate at least 36,000 trainees annually.
Backing the state’s claim, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) described the institutes as the best-equipped skills centres in Nigeria. NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said: “No polytechnic or university of technology in Nigeria matches the facilities at these institutes. Kaduna is now the hub of skills development in the country.”
The deployment of 100 CNG buses, another initiative of the current administration, aims to ease transportation challenges caused by fuel subsidy removal. For six months, students, civil servants, and pensioners will enjoy free rides, while the general public will benefit from subsidized fares.
On the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, the statement clarified that although the project was originally conceived during the tenure of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, it had been abandoned for years. When Governor Sani assumed office, the facility was only 53% complete and lacked equipment. His administration prioritized its completion and fully equipped the 300-bed hospital as part of a broader healthcare revitalization agenda.
“President Tinubu himself praised Governor Uba Sani’s transformative efforts during the commissioning,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, development, and unity, the Kaduna State Government concluded: “El-Rufai may be entitled to his opinion, but he cannot rewrite the facts. Governor Uba Sani’s achievements speak for themselves.”
