The Kaduna State Government has reclaimed more than 500,000 hectares of land previously controlled by bandits, the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, has said.
Maiyaki disclosed this on Sunday while speaking at a dinner organised by his ministry for members of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The journalists were in Kaduna for the 2026 retreat of the chapel, which focused on the security, legal and ethical issues surrounding the 2027 general elections.
According to Maiyaki, improved security under Governor Uba Sani’s administration had allowed communities that were previously affected by banditry to regain access to their farmland.
“I’m happy to tell you that the present administration under the able leadership of Governor Uba Sani has, within the past three years, recovered over 500,000 hectares of land from bandits.
“As you know, without security you cannot achieve anything. Before now, farmers in such areas were unable to go to their farms due to the activities of the bandits.”
He said the security challenges had also previously discouraged motorists and other travellers from using the Kaduna-Abuja route.
“I’m happy to say that that has now become a thing of the past because the security situation in Kaduna State has greatly improved,” the commissioner said.
Maiyaki said the government would continue to prioritise security, noting that development could not be sustained without a safe environment.
He further highlighted the state’s agricultural intervention, saying 500 trucks of fertiliser were given free of charge to more than 150,000 farmers during the 2026 farming season.
The commissioner said the initiative followed the distribution of 400 trucks in 2024 and 500 trucks in 2025 as the government continued its efforts to increase food production.
On education, Maiyaki said the state had recorded progress in reducing the number of children who were out of school, putting the figure at 187,000 compared with 550,000 previously.
He also said the government’s introduction of 100 CNG-powered buses had helped students and civil servants access cheaper transportation since July 2025.
“From July 2025, no fewer than 3.5 million people have been transported with the vehicles, and nothing less than N3.8m has been saved for people.
“Even the Nigeria Labour Congress has confirmed that workers have saved 40 per cent of their income since the introduction of the CNG buses,” he added.
The Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale, thanked the Kaduna State Government for hosting the journalists during the retreat.