Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has pledged that Kaduna State will not resort to borrowing in order to deliver on its promises, assuring citizens that his administration remains committed to completing all ongoing and inherited projects within his tenure.
The governor made the vow on Thursday during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 16.5-kilometre asphalt road linking Kayarda Tasha, Kayarda Gari, Unguwan Sarki, Maskawa, and Dan Alhaji communities in Lere Local Government Area.
The road, expected to ease transportation challenges, boost local trade, and connect farming communities to markets, is one of several infrastructure projects his government says will be executed under a debt-free model.
Governor Sani’s message was direct: Kaduna cannot afford the weight of additional loans.
“We will not borrow to finance projects,” he declared to a gathering of traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and party supporters who had assembled at Kayarda for the ceremony. “What we have started, we will finish. What we inherited, we will complete. And we shall do it without plunging our state into fresh debts.”
The governor’s words strike at the heart of a national conversation about debt sustainability. Across Nigeria, states continue to rely heavily on loans from both local and international lenders to fund capital projects. Kaduna itself carries a significant debt profile, much of it accumulated during previous administrations.
Sani’s stance represents not just a fiscal choice but also a political statement. He wants to be remembered as the governor who broke the cycle of borrowing.
Kaduna State is not new to large-scale borrowing. During the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the state secured several multilateral loans, especially from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to fund infrastructure and reform programs.
Supporters of those borrowings argue they brought critical investments in roads, schools, health centres, and urban renewal projects. Critics, however, maintain that the state’s rising debt burden left little fiscal space for future administrations.
According to figures released by the Debt Management Office earlier this year, Kaduna ranks among the top states with external debt exposure in Nigeria. While the debts are long-term and largely concessional, repayment obligations are real and will stretch for years.
Against that backdrop, Sani’s refusal to add to the pile may resonate with citizens weary of seeing future revenues mortgaged.
The 16.5-kilometre road project in Lere is more than asphalt and gravel. For the governor, it is symbolic of his approach: targeted, community-based, and debt-free.
The road will link five agrarian communities long cut off during rainy seasons. Farmers in Kayarda, Unguwan Sarki, and Maskawa often lose produce due to poor access to markets. Women traders spend hours trekking to the nearest motorable roads. Students find it difficult to reach schools.
By committing to finish this project without loans, Sani presents it as proof that development can be achieved with prudent management of internally generated revenue (IGR), federal allocations, and efficient spending.
“This road is a promise kept,” he said. “It shows that government can be responsive without being reckless.”
At the ceremony, community members welcomed the pledge with cautious optimism.
Alhaji Abubakar, a farmer from Dan Alhaji, told reporters that the project could transform local agriculture. “Our yams, maize, and beans often rot before reaching Kauru or Zaria markets. With a good road, buyers will come directly here,” he said.
A women leader, Hajiya Rabi Sulaiman of Kayarda Gari, noted that health emergencies had been difficult to manage. “Pregnant women suffer when vehicles cannot pass during rainy season. If the governor completes this road, it will save lives,” she said.
Still, some citizens voiced concerns about funding. “We support the governor’s decision not to borrow, but we want transparency. Where will the money come from? Will other projects suffer?” asked Mallam Musa, a youth activist.
Sani’s statement comes at a delicate time. His All Progressives Congress (APC) government faces pressure from opposition parties who argue that the state cannot meet development targets without borrowing.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna has accused the administration of “mere rhetoric,” insisting that projects require massive capital outlays that internally generated revenue alone cannot sustain.
Sani counters that argument by pointing to cost-cutting measures, fiscal discipline, and what he calls “a return to value-for-money governance.”
“We must learn to live within our means,” he said. “The days of reckless borrowing are over.”
Kaduna’s monthly federal allocation, combined with its IGR, provides the main funding pool for capital projects. The state government has recently intensified tax collection, expanded digital payment systems, and blocked revenue leakages.
However, analysts caution that relying solely on these sources may slow down the pace of infrastructure delivery. “Without loans, progress will depend on revenue efficiency. Projects may take longer,” said Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, an economist at Kaduna State University.
She added that the governor’s debt-averse policy could reassure investors and development partners, but warned that managing expectations will be crucial.
Beyond the new road in Lere, Sani faces the challenge of completing several ambitious projects started under his predecessor. They include the metropolitan road expansion in Kaduna city, the Zaria water supply project, and multiple urban renewal schemes.
The governor insists none will be abandoned. “We inherited responsibilities. We cannot betray the trust of citizens by leaving projects uncompleted,” he said.
Yet the scale of these projects raises questions about whether a strictly debt-free model is realistic.
Sani’s stance also feeds into a wider national debate. Nigeria’s debt stock has ballooned over the past decade, prompting calls for states to adopt more cautious approaches.
If Kaduna successfully demonstrates that projects can be delivered without new loans, it may set a precedent for other states. Conversely, if the approach leads to delays or unfulfilled promises, critics may argue that borrowing, when done wisely, remains essential.
For the people of Lere, the governor’s vow is both inspiring and a source of pressure. Expectations are high, and patience is thin.
“Let him finish this road, then we will believe,” said Yusuf, a commercial motorcyclist. “Too many politicians come here to make promises. We want to see action.”
Traditional rulers in the area expressed support, urging citizens to cooperate with contractors and protect ongoing works from vandalism.
Governor Sani’s words at the groundbreaking in Lere signal the direction of his administration: cautious with loans, committed to completion, and eager to build trust.
But the real test will come in the next two years as citizens measure rhetoric against results.
For now, the 16.5-kilometre road in Lere stands as a metaphor. Smoothly paved, it could symbolize a new path of responsible governance. Half-done or delayed, it may become yet another reminder of promises unmet.
Bottom line: Sani has thrown down a bold marker. Kaduna’s citizens and indeed Nigerians at large will be watching closely to see if debt-free development can truly move from slogan to reality.