From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has donated brand new buses to five professional bodies and institutions in the state to ease their transportation and operational challenges.
Beneficiaries are the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Kaduna State University (KASU).
Presenting the vehicles in Kaduna, Sani described the beneficiaries as critical institutions that had contributed significantly to the development of the state.
“I’m only handing over the vehicles to the beneficiaries. All the five very critical institutions that were given these vehicles today are very important organisations and have done a lot in contributing towards the development of our state,” he said.
The governor said the vehicle donated to the Correctional Service would help address mobility challenges, including the transportation of inmates to courts and health facilities.
He recalled visits to correctional facilities in the state where his administration observed infrastructure and operational challenges and subsequently intervened.
“The Correctional Service is very critical. We went there twice in a year and we’ve seen the level of decay in the Correctional Centre here in Kaduna.
“As a government, we’ve done a lot in trying to address the infrastructure deficit there and the problems they are facing. Giving them vehicles today would only help them in addressing most of these issues that have to do with transportation and mobility,” Sani said.
The governor also commended the NMA for supporting his administration’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery, describing access to healthcare as a fundamental right.
He said the association had collaborated with the government in strengthening healthcare services at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Sani similarly described the NBA as an important partner in promoting justice, rule of law and good governance, saying its Kaduna Branch was one of the most vibrant in the country.
He commended lawyers in the state for their role in defending the rights of underserved and underrepresented residents.
On KASU, Sani said his administration had worked with the institution and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to resolve accreditation challenges affecting some faculties and departments.
He said the government’s decision to reduce tuition fees at KASU and other state-owned tertiary institutions by 50 per cent had helped increase enrolment.
“When we decided to reduce the tuition fee by 50 per cent in KASU and other state higher institutions in Kaduna State, it’s simply because we want to increase the level of enrolment, and I’m happy today that has been achieved,” he said.
Sani also described the NUJ as critical to the country’s democracy, recalling the sacrifices of journalists, including those who lost their lives during the struggle against military rule.
Responding, Kaduna State NMA Chairman, Dr. Hassan Bala Salihu, thanked the governor for the donation and his administration’s interventions in the health sector.
“On behalf of all doctors and all healthcare professionals in Kaduna State, I want to sincerely appreciate you for this kind gesture. We have seen the commitment in advancing healthcare systems in Kaduna State,” Salihu said.
Chairman of the NBA Kaduna Branch, Baba Lawal, said the vehicle would strengthen the branch’s operational capacity.
KASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Musa, also thanked the governor, describing the donation as a significant intervention for the institution.
For the NUJ, its Kaduna State Chairman, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, said the union had requested a vehicle from the governor about six months ago during a Ramadan Iftar.
He said the donation was particularly significant because the council had not received a similar vehicle from the state government in about two decades.
“Today, history is being made because we are not just getting a bus; we are getting a luxury bus, for that matter,” Alabelewe said.
He said the council’s previous bus had become unserviceable and assured that the new vehicle would facilitate journalists’ movement to assignments across the state.
Alabelewe said the media would continue to hold the government accountable and set the agenda for development.
He disclosed that NUJ President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, had asked him to convey the national body’s appreciation to the governor and inform him that the union intended to confer on Sani the position of Grand Patron of the NUJ in Kaduna State.
“As we approach the election, we want to assure you that we will do our duties to ensure that we have a very peaceful, free and fair election in Kaduna State,” he said.
The Kaduna State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service also thanked the governor, saying the vehicle would address a major operational challenge.
Speaking on behalf of the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, the command said the bus would facilitate the movement of inmates to courts, health facilities and other official engagements.
It assured the governor that the vehicle would be properly maintained and used for its intended purposes.
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