Governor earmarks ₦100 million per ward in 2026 budget to deepen grassroots dev’t
Governor earmarks ₦100 million per ward in 2026 budget to deepen grassroots dev’t
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has proposed an allocation of ₦100 million to each of the state’s 255 political wards in the 2026 draft budget, in what he described as the most direct grassroots funding intervention in the state in decades.
Sani announced the provision on Friday at a Town Hall meeting for the public presentation of the 2026 budget, saying the initiative was informed by citizens’ feedback and complaints gathered from last year’s community consultations.
He said the consultations exposed significant developmental gaps, including the fact that 12 of the state’s 23 Local Government Areas had not benefitted from even one kilometre of road construction in 12 years.
According to him, this prompted the state to adopt a ward based development model that empowers communities to identify and prioritise their most urgent projects.
“The decisions on how each ward’s ₦100 million will be spent will no longer be taken by people on the high table.
“The money belongs to the communities, and their priorities will guide every project through structured citizen engagement,” he said.
Sani said the ward allocations would cover projects such as feeder roads, water schemes, health facilities, security infrastructure, farm to market links and community-driven economic programmes.
He noted that citizen participation had already informed budget decisions at the state level, citing the increase in the water sector budget from ₦10 million to ₦100 million after residents demanded greater investment.
The Governor said the renewed focus on rural infrastructure followed revelations from last year’s town hall meetings which showed deep neglect across communities.
This, he said, led to the rollout of a major road development programme now active in every LGA.
Sani listed several ongoing road projects , many between 90 and 95 per cent completion, including 24 km of inter-community links, a 35 km road in Sanga, 22.5 km in Soba, 24.7 km in Zangon Kataf and 14.2 km in Igabi, among others.
He said town hall feedback also shaped the state’s health sector investments, noting that Kaduna is the only state in Nigeria to upgrade 255 primary healthcare centres from level 1 to level 2.
He added that the renovation and equipping of 16 general hospitals was equally guided by ward level needs assessments, with nine already completed and commissioned.
On agriculture, Sani said wards with large farming populations would receive targeted interventions from their ₦100 million envelopes to complement ongoing state efforts, including the distribution of nearly 900 trucks of fertiliser to smallholder farmers.
The governor also referenced Kaduna’s recent $250 million agro-industrial investment deal, supported by the Federal Government, saying it would boost market access, value addition and rural incomes.
He explained that the state’s skill development system which currently enrolls 90,000 youths under the Federal Government’s TX training initiative would also benefit from ward-directed funding to support vocational and digital skills training.
Sani noted that large-scale transport projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and the planned 44 km light rail would further improve mobility and strengthen ward economies across the state.
He said the philosophy of the ₦100 million-per-ward policy is rooted in fairness, equity and justice, emphasising that development must reach every part of the state regardless of political, ethnic or religious differences.
“No ward, no community, no LGA will be left behind.
“Kaduna must work for everyone. The 2026 budget is your budget, and the ₦100 million is for you to decide, not for government to dictate,” Sani added.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders and youths representatives, commended the governor for what they described as exemplary citizens’ engagement and notable strides in security and development.
(NAN)
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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