The growing insecurity in Kaduna metropolis, particularly around Millennium City, should concern every one of us, Millennium City had the potential to become one of the fastest growing residential and commercial settlements in Kaduna. Its location, available land, expanding housing developments and proximity to major parts of the metropolis positioned it to attract significant private investment and generate substantial economic activity.but insecurity has come at a very heavy cost.
Beyond the immediate fear and hardship experienced by residents, we must also consider the economic opportunities that insecurity has taken away from Kaduna. Investors who could have built estates, shopping centres, offices, schools, hospitality businesses and other enterprises may now think twice,businesses that should have expanded are operating cautiously, property development that could have created thousands of direct and indirect jobs is being slowed down and economic activities that would have generated income for families and revenue for government are being lost.
In other words, the cost of insecurity is not measured only in the incidents we hear about. There is also the invisible cost of opportunities that never materialise because people no longer feel safe enough to invest, live or do business.
Millennium City could have been contributing far more significantly to the economic growth of Kaduna today. Its continued development would have created employment, increased demand for local services, strengthened the property market and stimulated businesses across the wider metropolis.
This is why I sincerely appeal to the Kaduna State Government and our security agencies to take decisive and sustained action to restore security in Millennium City and other affected parts of Kaduna metropolis.
We cannot afford to lose both the security of our people and the economic opportunities that their communities should be creating, the people of Millennium City deserve to live, work, invest and raise their families without fear. They deserve to sleep with their eyes closed.
May Allah protect our people and restore lasting peace to Kaduna.