The Kaduna State Government has dismissed claims by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that all projects commissioned by President Bola Tinubu during his recent Kaduna visit were initiated by El-Rufai’s administration. El-Rufai made the claims during an appearance on Arise television.
In response, the government, via a statement from Governor Uba Sani’s Chief Press Secretary Ibraheem Musa, labeled the claims as “bare-faced lies” and an attempt to distort the facts. The statement clarified that the projects were either initiated or completed under Governor Sani’s leadership.
President Tinubu inaugurated three major projects during his visit: the Institutes of Vocational Training and Skills Development, the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, and 100 Compressed Natural Gas buses. The vocational institutes, including Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Institute, Col. Dangiwa Umar Institute, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Institute, were all fully established and completed by Governor Sani’s administration.
These institutes are part of Governor Sani’s human capital development agenda, designed to provide Kaduna’s youth with practical skills and modern facilities, with an annual graduation target of 36,000 youths. The National Board for Technical Education has certified these institutes as the best-equipped skills development centers in Nigeria, according to NBTE Executive Secretary Prof. Idris Bugaje.
The introduction of 100 eco-friendly CNG buses was a Governor Sani initiative to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, offering free rides to workers, retirees, and students for six months, followed by subsidized fares for the general public. This initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to social welfare and environmental sustainability.
The 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital was originally conceptualized during former Governor Namadi Sambo’s tenure but remained incomplete through three successive administrations. When Governor Sani assumed office, the hospital was only 53% complete and lacked essential medical equipment. The hospital’s completion and modernization were prioritized by Governor Sani, making it a hallmark of his administration’s healthcare revitalization efforts.
The statement concluded by condemning El-Rufai’s falsehoods and asserting that Governor Sani has achieved what previous administrations could not.