The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has said that the security situation in Kaduna State has been exaggerated, while commending the state government’s efforts in addressing insecurity challenges.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, made this known on Monday during a media tour of key government projects in Kaduna State.

Okusanya, who led NIPR officials and journalists on an inspection of facilities, praised the state’s Command and Control Centre, describing it as a key intelligence and security coordination hub.

He said that while Kaduna, like other states, faces security challenges, the situation is not as difficult as widely perceived.

“Yes, it has some challenges like every other place, but I think efforts have been made to tackle this issue, and it’s not as bad as what people think,” he said.

He also noted that the institute had come under pressure from some stakeholders to relocate its 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week from Kaduna due to perceived security concerns.

According to him, those concerns were largely based on narratives that do not reflect the reality on the ground.

“There were a lot of outside pressures discouraging us from holding the event in Kaduna, arguing that the state is not safe,” he said.

Okusanya urged the Kaduna State Government to improve communication around its security efforts to better inform residents and the public.

He also recommended that the Command and Control Centre model be replicated across all 23 local government areas of the state to strengthen security coordination.

During the tour, the delegation also visited several public facilities, including primary healthcare centres, hospitals, schools, vocational training institutes, and ongoing infrastructure projects.

At the Badarawa Primary Healthcare Centre, the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmad, said Kaduna is the only state with all its 255 primary healthcare centres upgraded to Level 2 status.

She explained that the facilities now provide 24-hour services, including antenatal care, childbirth services, immunisation, and basic emergency care.

Ahmad also disclosed that the state government had approved improved salary structures and allowances for health workers to boost service delivery.

The delegation further inspected the Kaduna Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, which runs multiple campuses and offers various technical and vocational certification programmes.

They also visited a major 35-kilometre road project linking several communities across Kaduna State, which officials said has improved agriculture, transport, and rural economic activities.