By Abdullahi Alhassan.
KADUNA — In Nigerian public life, we are used to leaders who are loud in Abuja and silent at home. The story of Ungwan Muazu in Kaduna State tells a different tale.
At the heart of that story is CP Usman Musa Shugaba, Chief Personnel Security Officer to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Away from the protocols of Aso Villa, he has chosen to invest his time, influence, and resources where it matters most: in the lives of ordinary people in the community that raised him.
Over the last few years, Ungwan Muazu has witnessed a quiet revolution. Not one built on speeches, but on boreholes that work, children in classrooms, women with capital, and families who can now celebrate without fear of hunger. The philosophy driving it is simple: _leadership is service, and service must be felt at the doorstep of the common citizen_.
The Visible Transformation
1. Urban Renewal and Dignity Restored
The remodelling and beautification of Ungwan Muazu has given the community a new identity. Streets have been cleared, drainage addressed, and public spaces rehabilitated. Beyond aesthetics, residents say it restored pride. “For the first time, we feel seen,” one community elder noted.
2. Jobs, Skills, and Enterprise
With unemployment biting hard nationwide, CP Shugaba facilitated employment opportunities for hundreds of youths and women in both public and private sectors. He deliberately prioritized households with no government connections.
To sustain that momentum, he launched business support grants for SMEs. Today, traders, tailors, and young entrepreneurs who once lacked startup capital are employing others. The grants did more than fund businesses — they restored hope.
3. Feeding the Vulnerable
Each Ramadan, Eid, and festive season, trucks of food items and relief materials arrive in Ungwan Muazu. The distribution is targeted: widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and families hit by hardship. For many, it has turned periods of anxiety into periods of celebration.
4. Strengthening Faith Institutions
Recognizing religion as a pillar of community life, he facilitated the construction and renovation of several mosques. The aim was twofold: to provide decent places of worship and to strengthen the moral compass of the youth.
5. A Journey of Faith for 400+ People
Perhaps his most talked-about gesture is the sponsorship of over 400 residents to Hajj and Umrah. For many families, this was a lifelong dream deferred by poverty. CP Shugaba made it possible, describing it as “a debt of gratitude to God and to the people.”
6. Community-Led Security
Development cannot thrive in fear. To address this, he supported the creation of an internal community security squad that works alongside police and other agencies. The result: reduced petty crime, better night patrols, and renewed confidence among residents to go about their daily lives.
7. Investing in the Next Generation
CP Shugaba believes poverty is broken in the classroom. Through scholarships, textbooks, and support for schools, he has ensured that bright children from low-income homes are not left behind. Teachers in the area say school enrollment and performance have improved noticeably.
Leadership Without Borders
What distinguishes these interventions is not just the scale, but the spirit. They have been delivered without regard to religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Christians and Muslims, old and young, party members and non-members — all have benefitted.
That is why residents now refer to him not just as “CP” but as _a dependable leader and compassionate philanthropist.
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria does not lack policies. What we lack is leaders willing to translate position into people-centered action. CP Shugaba has shown that you can serve at the highest levels of government and still remember the street where you grew up.
The people of Unguwan Muazu no longer speak of him in the past tense. They speak of him in the present as a symbol of hope, and in the future as a legacy of selfless service.
If service is the true test of leadership, then Ungwan Muazu has its answer. And the rest of the country is watching.
Abdullahi is a Journalist based in Kaduna state, can be reached on abdullahialhassan381@gmail.com
Phone numbers 08030937450 08030894730
