FOR decades, Jigawa State has struggled with depressing statistics. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Jigawa has one of the highest poverty incidence rates in Nigeria, recording above 70% of households with subsistence farming as their primary livelihood. At the same time, the World Bank and other development agencies have identified Jigawa as a state with low literacy levels, inadequate health care, and poor infrastructure.
However, Jigawa State has massive potential to become Nigeria’s food basket. It has significant arable land, adequate water for irrigation, and a vast manpower. It was the dream of the governor, Umar Namadi, who took office in May 2023 to make Jigawa State prosperous. Governor Umar Namadi took office with a winning formula of prudent governance, strategic investment, and people-centered policies. In 2023, the then new governor had a dream to transform and reposition Jigawa State to become a thriving state free from the grips of poverty. Through carefully thought-through and coordinated policies and programmes, the Governor is aggressively rewriting Jigawa’s story sector by sector, impacting peoples lives in a sustainable manner.
His vision on food security deserves scrutiny. Governor Namadi, realizing the potential of the agricultural sector to propel Jigawa State to greater heights, has invested massively in agricultural mechanization to raise yields, boost the harvest, and generate income for the people. More than three hundred tractors, sixty combine harvesters, and over sixty farm mechanization service centers were established in the state’s constituencies. This marked the beginning of the transformation of the state’s subsistence farming with modern technology.
Disc ploughs, boom sprayers, rice seeders, and multipurpose planters were made available at subsidized rates to farmers. The state’s farms are being transformed, raising yields by 80%. Farm mechanization service centers have been established to serve the farmers in every constituency. In these centers, farmers can hire agricultural machinery on online platforms or visit local agents who have been authorized to provide mechanized farming services. These machines have been equipped with positioning systems to track their use and ensure they serve their purpose.
Furthermore, the government is providing training to the youths in engineering before sending them to China for specialization. These engineers are now in the employ of the government in the maintenance and management of the farm machinery. The result? Yields from the farms have increased from an average of 2.5 tons per hectare to 4.5 tons per hectare. With the help of irrigation and the provision of training on improved farming techniques in the farmlands, the government is optimistic about getting 8 to 10 tons per hecter.
Through the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) initiative, the state has partnered with private entities to provide mechanized farming services to thousands of youths and women who have joined the league of agribusinesses in Jigawa State. On this, Governor Namadi has been spot on, “This has put an end to the era of horse and cattle ploughing in Jigawa State. With mechanization, farmers are able to till a larger percentage of the land and, therefore, expect a higher yield per hectare and better profit per unit of output.”
Going by the present trend, agriculture will continue to flourish in Jigawa State and continue to contribute to the growth of the state’s economy. With all these policies and programs that favor the people of Jigawa State, the transformation process in the state under the leadership of Governor Namadi continues to gather speed. Despite the challenges confronting Jigawa State, which are similar to those of Nigeria, the governor has a vision for the state and has taken bold steps to achieve his goals and position Jigawa as a reference state in Nigeria.
Governor Namadi said, “We have made the transition from 2.5 tons per hectare to almost 4.5 tons in some farms. With the improvement in irrigation and the provision of training, I believe we are going to achieve between 8 and 10 tons per hectare.”
To consolidate the gains on food security, Governor Namadi is complementing his visionary agricultural policies with prudent financial policies to improve the state’s revenue. The impressive fiscal policies created room for the state to fund its programs without relying on the federation account.
The total internally generated revenue (IGR) rose from ₦27.5 billion in 2023 to more than ₦62.6billion. This made Jigawa State one of the fastest-growing states in the northern part of Nigeria in terms of internally generated revenue.
The governor’s impressive fiscal strategies saw him receiving the Excellence Award on Internal Generated Revenue.
On boosting and diversifying the state’s revenue base, Governor Umar Namadi is creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment that will generate profits for the people of Jigawa State. With the successful hosting of the Second Jigawa State Economic and Investment summit, J-INVEST 2026, investors are flocking the state to take part in the massive opportunities available in the state.
The Governor has received the State Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Award (SCIRA 2026) for his tremendous and visible efforts in positioning the state as a preferred investment destination and promoting its competitiveness.
In addition to agricultural mechanization and impressive fiscal reforms, Governor Namadi cares about the wellbeing of the people. His Grace has raised the minimum monthly pension from ₦12000 to ₦20000 for retirees in both state and local governments. An amount of more than ₦2.06 billion was paid into the Contributory Pension Scheme during the year to support retirees. This shows his concern for the wellbeing of the people of Jigawa State and his commitment to improving their quality of life.
The Namadi Administration has shown courage and commitment in achieving an overall economic transformation. The state has made deliberate efforts to develop Jigawa’s economy through renewable energy resources, investment in small-scale manufacturing, and developing the youths’ skills in information communication and technology.
The state has prioritized investing in the potentials of the youths in diverse fields to cushion the state from the effects of climate change and for economic transformation. The governor has also pursued policies that will broaden the state’s revenue base, increase capital accumulation, and promote private enterprises and investments to reduce the state’s reliance on federal funds. The government also provides a conducive environment for the generation of income and the establishment of businesses.
Governor Umar Namadi is gradually changing the story of Jigawa State. Namadi’s performance and commitment to the people of Jigawa State have been exemplary and worthy of emulation . His determination to improve the state’s poor fortunes in the past years have created a new legacy of hope for development and a glowing future for the state.
- Sule, a veteran journalist, public relations expert and outstanding academic, writes from Kano.