Uba Sani: Kaduna smart city project will attract $150m foreign investments

Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna, says the state’s smart city project is expected to attract at least $150 million in foreign direct investments (FDI).

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, after paying a condolence visit to Vice-President Kashim Shettima over the flood crisis in Maiduguri, Sani said the project has already attracted interest from private investors.

He added that the initiative will create 100,000 direct jobs.

“A lot of other private investors are trying to key into the smart city MOU. First, it will create about 100,000 jobs, that is direct jobs, indirect jobs could be up to 500,000,” Sani said.

The governor also highlighted the state’s ongoing partnership with Google, which has trained 5,000 women in digital economy skills.

He expressed optimism that these women would benefit from the smart city project.

“Before this, we signed an agreement with Google, where about 5000 women have been trained, supported in digital economy between conventional government and Google, so most of them will key into this,” he said.

“Because of that, more people will be able to be employed and self employed also, and at the same time, in terms of the volume of the investment, we are thinking it will attract at least $150 million investment to Kaduna.

“Before that, we have attracted over $350 million from Chinese companies in the last seven months in Kaduna in the area of solid resources, in the area of infrastructural development as well agriculture.”

The governor expressed confidence in the implementation of the project, citing China’s advanced technological expertise.

He said a committee has been established between the Kaduna state government and Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited to ensure the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is executed within a specified timeframe.

On September 3, Sani announced the signing of an MoU with Huawei for the “actualisation of the smart city project” in the state.

The signing ceremony occurred at Huawei’s office in Beijing, China, and was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers and other senior government officials.

According to the governor, the project aims to enhance security, improve efficiency and transparency in public service, and create smart healthcare and education systems, smart public transportation, and e-government.