Kaduna: The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has commenced the 2025 Governance Assessment Report (GAR) Tour in Kaduna State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this initiative is a significant part of the NGIJ’s flagship GAR project, aimed at conducting an independent evaluation of government policies, infrastructural projects, social programs, and overall performance metrics.
The statement, issued by NGIJ President Malam Abdulrahman Aliagan in Abuja, explains that a team of 12 investigative journalists and researchers from across Nigeria will partake in a week-long comprehensive assessment in Kaduna. The initiative aligns with NGIJ’s mission to enhance democratic culture, promote transparency, and reinforce accountability. The team will engage in a five-day intensive assessment spanning all 23 Local Government Areas in Kaduna State.
Field investigations will cover key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, security, agriculture, human capital development, women and youth empowerment, and job creation. Structured questionnaires and interviews with stakeholders will be conducted to collect first-hand information on governance performance. The guild plans to interact with critical stakeholders, including security agencies, political office holders, traditional rulers, labor leaders, and civil society groups. Additionally, they will engage representatives from political parties and grassroots citizens for a comprehensive evaluation of Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
The team will document flagship projects and publish daily field reports across national media platforms. At the conclusion of the tour, NGIJ will hold a press conference and present a comprehensive Governance Assessment Handbook summarizing its findings, impacts, and policy recommendations. The Kaduna tour builds on previous successful assessments in Kogi, Kwara, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Osun states, where NGIJ collaborated closely with state governments and stakeholders to ensure objectivity and credibility. Aliagan emphasized the importance of cooperation from stakeholders to ensure a smooth and transparent process, stating the guild’s objective is to provide an independent, fact-based evaluation highlighting both government achievements and challenges.
The outcome of this five-day exercise is expected to be a detailed Governance Assessment Handbook, serving as a valuable reference for policymakers, development partners, and the general public.
