A community-based organisation, the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, has commended the Federal Government (FG) and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, over the approval of a N178bn road project, describing it as a major step towards restoring security and economic stability in Birnin-Gwari.
The group said the 122-kilometre Mando–Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari road, a critical section of the Kaduna–Lagos highway corridor, is expected to significantly transform the socio-economic conditions of an area long affected by insecurity and poor infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Chairman, Ibrahim Nagwari, the group praised President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling campaign commitments made during his 2023 pre-election visit to Birnin-Gwari.
“We express profound appreciation to Governor Uba Sani for securing the Federal Government’s approval for the N178bn road project. This development marks a turning point for our people who have endured years of insecurity and infrastructural neglect,” the statement read.
The organisation noted that the ongoing reconstruction of the Mando–Birnin-Gwari road is both symbolic and strategic, as it is expected to improve connectivity, strengthen security operations, and enhance agricultural productivity across the region.
According to the group, improved road infrastructure will also help restore confidence among residents who have long faced isolation due to persistent security challenges.
The statement further highlighted other development projects initiated by the Kaduna State Government, including the 36-kilometre Bagoma–Gagumi road and the establishment of a modern cattle market and abattoir in Birnin-Gwari. These projects were described as long-term investments aimed at promoting economic growth and regional integration.
On security, the group commended Governor Uba Sani’s community-driven peace efforts under what it described as the Kaduna Peace Model. It noted that the initiative has begun yielding positive results, with improved safety along the Birnin-Gwari–Kaduna highway over the past 18 months.
“We are particularly elated by Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to building sustainable peace after years of banditry. The impact is tangible, as commuters now enjoy relatively unhindered movement along the highway,” the group stated.
It also observed that farming activities in the region have improved, with more farmlands now being cultivated ahead of the planting season, signalling gradual recovery of rural livelihoods.
While commending ongoing efforts, the group urged the state government to sustain peace-building initiatives through continuous community engagement, reconciliation, and development-focused dialogue.
Birnin-Gwari, a strategic corridor linking Kaduna to parts of the North-West and southern Nigeria, has for over a decade suffered from banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks that disrupted trade and displaced communities.
However, recent federal and state interventions combining infrastructure development and community-based security strategies are gradually restoring stability and economic activity in the region.