Kaduna
From The Report: Nigeria 2022
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The state of Kaduna was founded in 1912 by British colonial ruler Lord Frederick Lugard. Throughout its colonial history, it served as the political, administrative and economic centre of the north of Nigeria. As an academic centre with many tertiary educational institutions, Kaduna earned the nickname “the Centre of Learning”. In recent years state authorities have worked to develop Kaduna’s business climate. The Kaduna State Infrastructure Master Plan is the state’s long-term strategy for coordinated infrastructure development. The plan lays out interventions in the key sectors of transportation, housing, education, health, water and sanitation, and agriculture, with total projected expenditure amounting to N20trn ($53.4bn). The plan aims to ensure that Kaduna becomes a model for urban development by 2050 as it leverages its strategic location in the northern urban corridor. This chapter contains an interview with Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Diverse assets: Economic growth bolstered by agriculture and technology
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The history of the state of Kaduna dates back to 1912, when the capital city of Kaduna was founded by British colonial ruler Lord Frederick Lugard on the largely uninhabited plains of Zaria. The city and state are named after the river Kaduna, one of the two major tributaries of the Niger River that feeds into the plains. The river’s name itself most likely derives from the Hausa word Kadduna, meaning crocodiles. Throughout its colonial and early post-colonial history, the state served as the…

Analysis

Setting the foundation: Infrastructure development and an investment-friendly climate identified as central to sustainable, long-term expansion
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State authorities have worked to develop Kaduna’s infrastructure and business climate in recent years, identifying them essential to sustainable growth. The Kaduna State Infrastructure Master Plan (KADIMP) 2018-50 is the state’s long-term strategy for coordinated infrastructure development. The plan lays out interventions in the key sectors of transportation, housing, education, health, water and sanitation, and agriculture. Total projected expenditures under KADIMP amount to N20trn ($53.4bn).…

Interview

The right place: Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor, Kaduna State, on leveraging competitive advantages to attract investment
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Interview:Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai To what extent has progress in facilitating business procedures translated to investment inflows? Which sectors are being prioritised? NASIR EL-RUFAI: Kaduna’s performance in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index has been instrumental in attracting investors. Between 2015 and 2021 Kaduna secured investments in excess of $800m. Singaporean agri-business firm Olam International has invested $150m in poultry facilities, while the African Industries…

Analysis

Fertile plains: Targeted efforts to develop the agricultural value chain
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Kaduna is actively seeking to attract investors to the agriculture sector, promoting a number of opportunities. The Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KAPIDA) has identified about 2.5m ha of uncultivated land with abundant water resources to support commercial farming, livestock and fishery businesses, and welcomes investors to take advantage of the state’s potential. Indeed, the economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with the sector employing more than 42% of the workforce across 1.3m households,…

Analysis

Power up: Renewable energy key to achieving electrification objectives
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National reforms leading to the unbundling and privatisation of Nigeria’s Power Holding Company in 2013 resulted in the creation of the privately owned distribution firm Kaduna Electric, which is licensed to supply power in the state. At the same time the Kaduna Power Supply Company (KAPSCO), fully owned by the Kaduna government, was created to undertake energy initiatives in areas where significant supply gaps remain. KAPSCO has spearheaded a number of projects to supply power to rural communities…

Analysis

Engine of expansion: The authorities are looking to private sector investment to increase value-added production
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The manufacturing industry, which was an important component of Kaduna’s economy in the 1970s, has seen a steady decline in the decades since. The local authorities have been keen to kick-start light manufacturing, particularly in the agro-allied industries, and expand activity in the solid minerals sector, which are expected to become a key driver of growth. However, industry and manufacturing remain comparatively small components of the economy, contributing around 10% to the state’s GDP. The…