The Kaduna State Government has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against banditry, saying more than 500,000 hectares of land previously controlled or abandoned because of insecurity have been recovered across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the development had opened up previously inaccessible farming communities and allowed residents to return to agricultural activities. He said the improvement in security was also restoring confidence among travellers who had previously avoided the Kaduna-Abuja route because of attacks by criminal groups.
Maiyaki said the recovery of the affected areas was part of the administration’s wider security efforts, stressing that meaningful economic development could not take place where residents were afraid to farm, travel or conduct their businesses.
The state government is also combining improved security with agricultural support. Maiyaki disclosed that 500 trucks of fertiliser were distributed free to more than 150,000 farmers during the 2026 farming season. Similar distributions were carried out in the previous two years as the government sought to increase food production and encourage farmers to return to their fields.
The commissioner also highlighted progress in the education sector, saying the number of children out of school in Kaduna had dropped from about 550,000 to 187,000. He attributed part of the government’s efforts to reducing the burden on families and improving access to education across the state.
Transportation has also received attention, with the government deploying 100 CNG-powered buses to provide cheaper transportation for students, civil servants and other residents. According to Maiyaki, the buses have transported about 3.5 million passengers since their introduction in July 2025, helping commuters reduce their transportation expenses.
Maiyaki said the government would continue to place security at the centre of its development agenda, arguing that restoring access to farmland and improving freedom of movement were essential to rebuilding Kaduna’s economy and improving the quality of life for residents.
