President Bola Tinubu landed at Kaduna’s Mando Military Airport on Thursday, June 19, at precisely 1:27 pm, commencing the second phase of his three-state tour.
He was welcomed by a high-level delegation, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Governor Uba Sani; the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; and a group of fellow governors, along with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as top military and state officials. The presidential Boeing 737 was accorded a military guard of honor and an Air Force band salute.
The primary focus of Tinubu’s one-day visit was the dedication of three major infrastructure projects. First, he officially commissioned the Institute of Skill Acquisition & Development in Rigachikun, a new vocational training center aimed at boosting youth employability and technical expertise.
Next, he unveiled a 300-bed Specialist Hospital at Millennium Square, designed to enhance healthcare capacity across the region. Finally, he flagged off a fleet of 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses intended to modernize Kaduna’s urban transport system and promote more sustainable fuel alternatives.
The injection of CNG buses marks a strategic step toward reducing dependence on costly petrol, following national subsidy reforms aimed at reducing the transport sector’s fuel expenses an initiative supported by the earlier rollout of CNG-powered fleets.
The event at Murtala Square was followed by a grand state reception, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to human capital development, healthcare access, youth empowerment, and infrastructural advancement.
During his brief stay, Tinubu highlighted that the visit was originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed to accommodate the aftermath of his Benue State visit, underlining ongoing efforts to resolve security crises in the north-central region. Meanwhile, security forces implemented traffic diversions on key routes like Kawo Bridge and Independence Way to ensure smooth transit for the President and guests.
Tinubu’s tour continues tomorrow in Nasarawa State, where he is expected to commission comparable projects aimed at stimulating regional growth and service delivery.
This latest step in Tinubu’s developmental tour underscores a clear federal push to strengthen vocational education, modernize healthcare infrastructure, and transition urban transport to cleaner-fuel technologies.
The CNG initiative ties into broader economic reforms designed to replace fuel subsidies with sustainable, long-term solutions. Whether these flagship projects stimulate lasting impact in Kaduna hinges on operational excellence, maintenance strategies, and community engagement.
