THE Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has stated that 86% of those living in rural communities in the state live below the poverty line, while only 14% of mostly those living in urban areas, live above the poverty line.
He said the figure is frightening, emphasizing that his administration will work closely with all stakeholders to alleviate poverty at the grassroots and revitalize rural businesses.
Governor Sani made the observation during a meeting with all 23 local government chairmen and 255 ward councillors in the state, during which he requested that they identify critical infrastructures and other economic interventions in their respective areas that the state government will carry out in order to improve the state’s economy.
According to him, the meeting is intended to obtain a direct report on all elements of grassroots governance, which is critical in the drafting of the 2024 budget and the implementation of government programs across Kaduna State.
Governor Sani, lamenting the high rate of poverty and insecurity in rural communities, emphasized the need for the state and local governments to come up with consistent ideas and programs that will assist the people.
To that end, he stated that the state government will shortly launch a rural transformation initiative aimed at revitalizing the rural economies of the state’s most vulnerable communities.
The governor also emphasized the need of local government chairmen having regular security and town hall meetings at the grassroots level, which he believes are critical to improving rural economy and reducing rural-urban migration.
He also urged the local government chairmen to priotise their projects and programmes so that the people who are the most marginalized group in the society will begin to feel the impact of governance that has eluded them over the years.
The conference was attended by Governor Sani and his deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, as well as the speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, and all 23 local government chairmen and 255 councillors.
