Economy
Nigeria at 65: Gov Uba Sani Says Together, We Are Overcoming, Together We Are Rising
Nigeria at 65: Gov Uba Sani Says Together, We Are Overcoming, Together We Are Rising
Nigeria at 65: Gov Uba Sani says together, we are overcoming, together we are rising. The strength of our people, especially here in Kaduna State, continues to be the bedrock of our shared progress.
My dear people of Kaduna State,
Today, Nigeria marks 65 years of independence; a significant milestone in the journey of a nation that has weathered many storms, yet continues to stand tall, proud, and unbroken. This anniversary is both a celebration and a call to reflection: a celebration of our collective resilience, and a moment to honour the sacrifices and vision of our founding fathers, who won for us the freedom we now enjoy.
Their legacy was not forged in ease, but in unity, faith, and an unwavering belief in the greatness of Nigeria. It is a legacy that inspires us to continue building a nation where peace, justice, and opportunity prevail. We must not merely commemorate independence: we must make it meaningful for every Nigerian.
Our path as a nation has been defined by resilience. Through challenges; political, economic, and social. Nigerians have demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to endure and hope. The strength of our people, especially here in Kaduna State, continues to be the bedrock of our shared progress.
This is why, on this historic day, I extend a sincere call to all of us: let us work together, across our communities, faiths, and backgrounds; to confront our challenges and unlock our collective potential. It is in unity that we will continue to give life to the dream of a peaceful, just, and prosperous Nigeria.
Here in Kaduna State, we are translating vision into action. Our administration is pursuing inclusive development and renewal through strategic and people-centred investmentsespecially in the following areas:
1. Infrastructure and Economic Connectivity
We have prioritised infrastructure as the engine of development. To date, we have launched 85 urban and rural road projects, covering 785 kilometres across the state. Nearly half of these are completed, facilitating trade, reducing travel time, and improving access to markets for farmers and entrepreneurs alike. We are rebuilding urban roads, bridges, and essential public utilities to stimulate investment and elevate living conditions.
2. Rural Transformation and Agricultural Revival: Our Rural Revitalisation Agenda is reawakening the economic potential of previously marginalised communities.
With the reopening of key markets such as the Birnin Gwari Livestock Market and the Kidandan Market in Giwa, we are seeing a resurgence of local commerce and a renewed sense of community confidence. More than 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmland have been reclaimed, equipping our farmers to produce more while enhancing food security across the state.
3. Human Capital Development: Education and health are not luxuries — they are the pillars of our future. We are executing a comprehensive reform of our educational system to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality learning.
This includes infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and the integration of digital tools. Through the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, we have successfully returned over 10,728 children to the classroom. Moreover, we have reopened 535 schools previously shut due to insecurity, reaffirming our belief that education is a right, not a privilege.
In healthcare, we have turned promises into action. We have upgraded 255 Primary Health Care Centres across the state, bringing vital services closer to rural communities.
These efforts are supported by our investments in three world-class vocational institutes, which are empowering our youth and women with marketable skills to thrive in an evolving economy.
4. Agriculture and Food Security: Recognising the strategic importance of agriculture, we have allocated over 10% of the 2025 budget to the sector — the highest in recent years. This demonstrates our commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, promoting climate-smart practices, and strengthening the agricultural value chain to ensure long-term food security and economic growth.
5. Peacebuilding and Social Inclusion: We understand that meaningful development is impossible without peace. This is why we have deepened our investment in community security, reconciliation, and dialogue.
We are expanding community policing initiatives, strengthening collaboration with security agencies, and supporting victims of conflict. Through these efforts, we are rebuilding trust across diverse communities and reaffirming our collective commitment to peaceful coexistence.
Justice, equity, and inclusion are the cornerstones of our governance approach. We are building a Kaduna State where policy is driven by fairness, leadership is guided by empathy, and every community, no matter how remote, has a voice in shaping our shared future.
These achievements reflect our determination to build a Kaduna that is safe, strong, and inclusive. Yet, the path ahead requires even greater cooperation between government and the people.
Gov Uba Sani
Development is a shared responsibility. I urge every citizen to contribute, through acts of peace, through civic participation, and through unwavering belief in the promise of our state and nation.
Nigeria’s future remains bright, and Kaduna’s role in that future is significant. Under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the nation is undergoing bold reforms to secure peace, restore prosperity, and strengthen democratic governance. Kaduna stands fully in support of this vision.
As we celebrate today, let us renew our commitment to building a nation where hope thrives and unity endures. With God’s guidance and our collective resolve, we will overcome our challenges and realise the full potential of our state and country.
Happy Independence Day.
May God bless Kaduna State.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Eid-el-Fitr: NRC Sets To Run Three Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips Monday
Eid-el-Fitr: NRC sets to run three Lagos–Ibadan train trips Monday. He assured passengers of NRC’s continued commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient rail services.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by NRC chief public relations officer, Callistus Unyimadu.
He said the additional trip was in response to high passenger turnout during the Eid-el-Fitr travel period.
“The extra trip is aimed at easing passenger movement and providing more travel options for commuters returning after the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
“Under the schedule, departures from Lagos (Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta) will be at 7.45 a.m., 1.40 p.m., and 4.00 p.m.
“From Ibadan (Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya), trains will depart at 8.00 a.m., 10.50 a.m., and 4.30 p.m.,” he said.
Mr Unyimadu assured passengers of NRC’s continued commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient rail services.
NRC Sets To Run Three Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips Monday
He advised travellers to arrive early, comply with ticketing and security procedures, and plan their journeys.
“The corporation appreciates the continued patronage of its services and wishes all passengers a safe and pleasant journey,” he added.
UBA, BII Sign Letter Of Intent To Explore Trade Finance Collaboration Across Africa
United Bank for Africa (UK) Limited (“UBA UK”) and British International Investment plc (“BII”), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced that they have signed a letter of intent to develop trade finance collaboration opportunities.
The proposed initiative aims to expand access to trade and working capital facilities for businesses operating across Africa.
Access to trade finance remains one of the most significant structural constraints on African trade. Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, are frequently unable to secure letters of credit, guarantees, and supply chain finance on commercially viable terms, limiting their capacity to export and import competitively. This trade finance gap is estimated by the African Development Bank to be over USD 80 billion annually.
To help close this gap, UBA UK, the London subsidiary of UBA Group, Africa’s Global Bank, will leverage its deep relationships across the Group’s 20-country African network to originate and structure trade finance transactions. While BII, with a mandate to support productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth across Africa, can support transactions that might otherwise fall outside conventional commercial appetite.
“The signing of this letter with BII represents a landmark moment for UBA UK and for the UBA Group’s global ambitions. As the Group’s hub for Trade Operations, UBA UK is uniquely positioned to connect African businesses with the international financial system. Working alongside BII, we can extend that capability further — mobilising capital where it matters most and helping to close the trade finance gap that holds back so much African potential,” said Lok Mishra, Chief Executive Officer, UBA UK
“British International Investment is committed to catalysing private sector growth across Africa, and trade finance is a critical enabler of that growth. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with UBA Group, whose pan-African network and deep institutional relationships can help advance our ambition to expand access to trade and working capital finance, particularly in frontier markets,” Chris Chijiuitomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa
The announcement builds on growing momentum around intra-African trade facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which entered into force in 2021 and represents one of the world’s most significant trade integration initiatives. Both institutions have identified the operationalisation of AfCFTA as a priority catalyst for a trade finance facility, with UBA UK’s network across major AfCFTA economies offering a basis for supporting businesses navigating the emerging continental market.
This also complements the UK Government’s broader engagement with African economic development, including commitments made at the UK-Africa Investment Summit, and reinforces the City of London’s role as a leading international finance centre for Africa-focused capital mobilisation.
Future cooperation remains subject to further assessment, due diligence and the completion of internal approvals by both parties.
ABOUT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UK) LIMITED
UBA UK is the London-based subsidiary of United Bank for Africa Plc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with operations across 20 African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates. UBA UK serves as the Group’s hub for Trade Operations, providing a comprehensive suite of trade finance, treasury, and correspondent banking services to institutional and corporate clients worldwide.
UBA
ABOUT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA GROUP
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
ABOUT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. The organisation invests in businesses in developing countries to improve people’s lives and help protect the planet. BII’s work targets the underlying causes of poverty and the climate crisis, helping countries break free from aid dependency for good.
Between 2022-2026, at least 30 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge which has raised over $33.6 billion to empower women’s economic development.
The company has investments in over 1,600 businesses across 66 countries and total net assets of £9.87 billion. For more information, visit: www.bii.co.uk | watch here. Follow British International Investment on LinkedIn, Bluesky and X.
Eid-el-Fitr: President Tinubu Felicitates Muslims, Urges Renewed Unity, Patriotism
Eid-el-Fitr: President Tinubu felicitates Muslims, urges renewed unity, patriotism. Mr Tinubu called on Muslims to reflect on the spiritual lessons of Ramadan.
The president urged them to renew commitment to national unity, peaceful coexistence, and service to humanity as they celebrate the festival across the country on Friday.
This is contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Tinubu called on Muslims to reflect on the spiritual lessons of Ramadan, noting that the holy month teaches discipline, sacrifice, compassion, and devotion to God and humanity.
He said: “We have a lot to draw from the noble lessons of Ramadan, especially at a time like this.
“We must continue to abide by the virtues of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion beyond this period.”
The president emphasised the need for Nigerians to remain united across religious and ethnic lines, stressing that national cohesion remains vital for sustainable peace and development.
He urged Muslims to extend acts of kindness and charity to the less privileged, irrespective of religious or ethnic background, in line with the enduring values of Islam.
Mr Tinubu noted that such gestures would strengthen social bonds, promote inclusiveness, and reinforce the spirit of brotherhood that defines the Nigerian society.
The president also called on religious leaders to use the occasion to offer prayers for peace, stability, and economic prosperity across the country.
Tinubu
He expressed optimism that with collective efforts, Nigeria would overcome its challenges and achieve lasting progress for the benefit of all citizens.
Mr Tinubu wished Muslims a joyous celebration, praying that the blessings of Ramadan would bring renewed hope, strength, and guidance to individuals, families, and the nation.
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