Kaduna Reclaims 500,000 Hectares of Farmland from Bandits

The Kaduna State Government announced the recovery of over 500,000 hectares of farmland previously controlled by bandits, enabling farmers to return to agricultural activities. Ahmed Maiyaki, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, stated that the security situation had significantly improved over the past three years, with bandits once dominating rural communities.

This announcement was made on Sunday, September 13, 2026, during a Gala Night organized by the Correspondents' Chapel in Kaduna. The government's strategy included engaging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to identify and contain potential threats, successfully managing 70 out of 75 identified threats between 2023 and early 2026.

The agricultural budget rose dramatically from N1.4 billion in 2023 to over N100 billion in 2026, with funds allocated for free fertilizer, resulting in maize yields increasing from approximately three bags per hectare to 22 bags. Additionally, road construction and rehabilitation across the state facilitated better transportation for farmers.