Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has declared that President Bola Tinubu has done more for Northern Nigeria than any previous Nigerian leader, pointing to major investments in roads, agriculture, healthcare, education and rail transport as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the region.
The governor also dismissed claims that the North would turn against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the President would receive even more votes from the region than he secured during the 2023 poll.
Sani made the remarks during an interview on ARISE Television on Tuesday, where he defended the Tinubu administration against growing criticism over its economic reforms and political support in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, assessments of the President’s performance should be based on facts and measurable achievements rather than political speculation.
“Let me be very frank with you. And when I talk, I talk on the basis of data and statistics. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today, I can tell you, he has done more than any leader for Northern Nigeria,” the governor said.
“I can tell you categorically, no president has done to the North in terms of development as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done in the last three years. And I’m speaking on the basis of data and statistics.”
The governor rejected claims made by some political commentators that Tinubu’s popularity had declined in the North following the economic reforms introduced since he assumed office in May 2023.
According to him, the suggestion that Northern voters would abandon the President in the next election does not reflect the mood of people across the region.
“A lot of people have come here and told you the North will not vote for Asiwaju. That is a figment of their imagination,” he said.
“I can tell you categorically, I’m the Governor of Kaduna State and I can tell you, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will get more votes in 2027 than what he got.”
Sani attributed his confidence to what he described as landmark infrastructure projects currently being executed by the Federal Government across Northern Nigeria.
One of the projects he highlighted was the Abuja-Kaduna highway, a major federal road linking the nation’s capital with Kaduna and several other northern states.
The road has for years been a source of concern because of its poor condition and the security challenges that made travelling along the route risky for motorists.
According to the governor, the Tinubu administration has made substantial progress in completing the project after years of delays.
“As we are speaking, and you should jot it down, this project will be commissioned, by God’s grace, November this year, because over N600 billion has already been paid to the contractor,” he said.
“I’m following the project personally. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already paid the contractors over N600 billion from about N750 billion of the project to complete the road by November.”
He also cited the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road as another major project receiving attention under the current administration.
According to him, the road had been abandoned for more than 25 years before the Federal Government approved fresh funding for its completion.
“Only last three weeks, the President has paid part of the N178 billion to construct the road from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari, which was abandoned for over 25 years. And you tell me the people will not be happy?” he asked.
The governor said the rehabilitation of major roads would improve transportation, boost trade, strengthen security and encourage investment across the region.
Sani also praised the Federal Government’s interventions in agriculture, describing the sector as the backbone of Kaduna State’s economy.
He said Tinubu’s administration had supported Kaduna and other states with fertiliser and other agricultural inputs aimed at increasing food production and supporting farmers.
“Mr President has supported subnationals, including Kaduna State Government, in agriculture. Because for me, agriculture is the mainstay of our economy,” he said.
He added that Kaduna had emerged as the leading state under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme because of support received from the Federal Government.
“I can tell you today, that is why we are the leading state in SAPZ because of the intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supporting us with a lot of fertiliser to give to the lower cadre of our farmers,” he stated.
The governor also listed other projects he said demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to Northern Nigeria.
According to him, these include the establishment of a Federal University of Science and Technology in Southern Kaduna, the upgrade of one of the state’s hospitals into a Federal Medical Centre, and the approval of a light rail system for Kaduna.
He disclosed that the Federal Executive Council recently approved about **N1 trillion** for the Kaduna Light Rail project after the completion of feasibility studies.
“Only last month, the Federal Executive Council also approved N1 trillion, which I can tell you the project is about to start because feasibility studies have been done, money has been released for Kaduna Light Rail. It’s N1 trillion. Kaduna N1 trillion, Kano N1 trillion,” he said.
According to Sani, these projects are expected to improve transportation, healthcare delivery, education and economic development across the state and the wider Northern region.
President Tinubu’s administration has continued to defend its economic reform program, arguing that difficult decisions such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary to stabilise Nigeria’s economy and attract investment.
While government officials say the reforms have improved public finances, increased revenue and restored investor confidence, many Nigerians continue to grapple with high inflation, rising food prices, increased transportation costs and declining purchasing power.
The economic hardship has fuelled criticism from opposition parties, labour unions and civil society organisations, with some questioning whether the reforms have translated into better living conditions for ordinary citizens.
Political debates over Tinubu’s performance have also intensified as politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission has not officially commenced activities for the next election cycle, discussions about possible alliances, endorsements and voting patterns have continued to dominate political conversations across the country.
Northern Nigeria remains a critical voting bloc in presidential elections because of its large population and number of registered voters. As a result, the region is expected to play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
Against this backdrop, Sani insisted that the Federal Government’s investments in roads, agriculture, healthcare, education and transportation would strengthen public support for President Tinubu across the North.
He maintained that the administration’s record of infrastructure development and economic intervention would speak louder than political criticism when Nigerians eventually return to the polls.