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The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has flagged off its 2025 Governance Assessment Report (GAR) Tour in Kaduna State, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort to strengthen transparency, accountability, and democratic governance.

The tour officially commenced on Sunday, August 24, with the arrival of the NGIJ delegation in Kaduna.

In a statement, NGIJ President, Malam Abdulrahman Aliagan, described the initiative as a central part of the Guild’s flagship Governance Assessment Report Project, designed to independently evaluate government policies, infrastructural projects, social programs, and overall performance indicators.

Aliagan disclosed that a 12-member team of senior investigative journalists and researchers drawn from across the country will spend one week in Kaduna, engaging in a five-day intensive assessment exercise covering all 23 local government areas. The team will investigate key sectors including education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, security, human capital development, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.

The exercise will involve field investigations, administration of structured questionnaires, and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders such as government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society groups, labour leaders, political actors, and grassroots citizens.

According to Aliagan, the NGIJ delegation will also document flagship projects, publish daily field reports in national media, and conclude the tour with a press conference to present a comprehensive Governance Assessment Handbook. The handbook will highlight the Guild’s findings, impacts, and policy recommendations for the state.

“Our mission is not to witch-hunt or politicize governance,” Aliagan stressed. “We are here to provide an independent, fact-based, and grassroots-oriented evaluation that amplifies the voices of Kaduna residents while highlighting government achievements and challenges.”

He noted that the Kaduna assessment builds on successful tours conducted in Kogi, Kwara, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Osun States, where NGIJ worked closely with governments and stakeholders to ensure credibility and objectivity.

The Guild has urged stakeholders, institutions, and citizens to support the exercise in order to guarantee a smooth and transparent process.

The Kaduna assessment is expected to produce an in-depth Governance Assessment Handbook, serving as a valuable reference document for policymakers, development partners, and the general public.

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