Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art banquet hall constructed by the Kaduna State Government, describing the project as a clear reflection of purposeful leadership and institutional strengthening.
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Speaking during the ceremony in Kaduna, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the state, citing its strategic importance in Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape. He emphasised that Kaduna occupies a pivotal role in the country’s development trajectory, warranting sustained federal presence through projects and policy initiatives.
“We have returned to Kaduna time and again in recent months bearing projects, policies and promises renewed by action, because we understand the place this great state occupies in the anatomy of our nation,” the Vice President said. He added that the Federal Government would continue to stand by the state, noting that “the heartbeat of Nigeria cannot be ignored without the whole body feeling the impact.”
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Shettima commended Governor Uba Sani for combining infrastructural development with efforts to strengthen governance institutions, describing the approach as essential for sustainable growth. He stressed that effective governance goes beyond physical projects, requiring systems that promote accountability, efficiency and improved service delivery.
According to the Vice President, the newly inaugurated facility will support high-level engagements, policy discussions and ceremonial events, while addressing infrastructural gaps that have historically constrained governance activities. He expressed optimism that the hall would position Kaduna as a hub for regional and international gatherings, including conferences, exhibitions and cultural events capable of stimulating economic activity.
In his remarks, Governor Sani described the banquet hall as a strategic investment aimed at enhancing institutional capacity and public engagement rather than merely serving as a physical structure. The facility, he disclosed, sits on 2.7 hectares with a built-up area of approximately 5,000 square metres, accommodating up to 1,000 guests in banquet configuration and 1,300 in theatre-style seating.
Sani further explained that the hall was designed to host diplomatic engagements, international conferences and policy dialogues, aligning with his administration’s vision of positioning Kaduna as a centre for investment, culture and global interaction. He added that the facility was named after a former military administrator in recognition of disciplined and value-driven leadership.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, praised the project as a significant achievement delivered within record time, while urging the state to honour other past leaders, including Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa.
Also speaking, former Vice President Namadi Sambo commended the initiative, describing it as a magnificent project that reflects a strategic investment in governance and modernisation.
Kaduna has increasingly remained a focal point of federal attention, owing to both its economic potential as an industrial and agricultural hub and its ongoing security challenges, including banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and kidnapping along major transport routes.
