After years of displacement due to insecurity, hope is returning to the farmlands of Southern Kaduna, as communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area begin to reclaim their homes and their futures thanks to a coordinated resettlement effort led by the Kaduna State Government.
In an exclusive interview with Dawn Herald, Engr. Joseph Bege Gaiya, the Executive Chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government, he revealed how Governor Uba Sani’s administration has made significant strides in restoring life to once-deserted villages.
“Communities like Ungwan Pama, Ungwan Bayero, Ungwan Tella, Lusawa, and Bad’dawa under the Gora ward were all ghost towns,” Gaiya said. “People ran for their lives. But since the governor came on board, people have started returning. We’re seeing life again in these places.”
With security gradually improving, the state government, in collaboration with local authorities and Operation Safe Haven (Sector 7), has rolled out a major palliative programme aimed at helping displaced families resettle. Relief materials such as roofing sheets, cement, nails, doors, and windows are being stockpiled at the local government secretariat, ready for disbursement.
“The deputy governor is overseeing the committee, and we’re collecting final data to make sure the materials reach the right people,” Gaiya explained. “Even irrigation equipment like pumping machines are ready to be distributed. The governor has shown tremendous commitment.”
While Gaiya declined to give an exact figure, he estimated the value of materials and support provided by the state government to exceed ₦200 million. “Given the current value of the naira and the volume of items we’ve received, it’s a conservative estimate,” he said.
Agriculture, the lifeblood of Zangon Kataf, is also receiving a major boost. Fertilizers, solar-powered sprayers, and farm implements have been distributed to farmers during the dry season, enabling them to return to their fields with renewed strength.
“Our people are hard-working. Zangon Kataf is possibly the largest producer of pepper in Kaduna State. Places like Ashafa and Koloso have produced millionaire youths just through farming,” Gaiya said with pride. “One of my classmates now owns two houses in Kaduna from proceeds of farming. Me? I’m a chairman, and I don’t even have one!”
Beyond emergency aid, Gaiya says his administration is focused on long-term rural transformation reviving markets, connecting remote communities through new roads, building skill acquisition centers, and returning out-of-school children to classrooms.
When asked about the state’s ability to fund these efforts without external borrowing, Gaiya commended the leadership of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS). Though revenue collection is now centralized at the state level, local governments are tasked with implementation.
“Our job is to support the state’s revenue policies. We don’t control the funds, but we make sure the systems work,” he said. “Comrade Jerry Adams, the KADIRS chairman, is doing an incredible job. If there were problems, we would know. So far, we’ve received no complaints.”
With a firm tone of gratitude and unwavering loyalty, Gaiya wrapped up the interview with a message of support for Governor Uba Sani: “The governor has never made a decision that isn’t for the people. I remain solidly behind him anytime, any moment.”
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