Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has announced a partnership with China to develop a “smart city” project aimed at enhancing governance, public security, and service delivery.
Speaking at the Kaduna State Liason office in Abuja on Tuesday the Governor indicated tbat the project aligns with Nigeria’s push towards industrialization and modernization, and is expected to boost education, healthcare, talent cultivation, and the use of renewable energy in the state.
Governor Sani disclosed that the state would leverage Chinese technology, particularly through a collaboration with Huawei, to implement the project.
He emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to establish an e-government system to promote transparency and efficiency in public services.
The governor expressed optimism that the project would bring immense benefits not only to Kaduna State’s over five million residents, who are predominantly engaged in agriculture, but also to the entire Northeastern region of Nigeria.
“The smart city project will be of immense benefit, not only to Kaduna people but to the entire Northeastern region,” Sani stated.
Governor Sani noted that the recent agreement follows President Bola Tinubu’s visit to China, where he led a delegation to strengthen ties with the Asian nation.
“The visit resulted in several cooperation documents, including the application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and the smart city project.
Governor Sani also revealed that Kaduna State has been actively pursuing investment partnerships, citing a recent collaboration with North China’s Hebei Province to construct an industrial park. This move, he said, underscores the state’s commitment to economic development and industrialization.
The “smart city” project is part of the broader cooperation between China and Nigeria, which was discussed at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). With this partnership, Kaduna State aims to harness cutting-edge technology to transform its governance structure and create a more transparent, efficient, and secure environment for its citizens.