Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has announced a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing insecurity and aiding victims of banditry throughout the state. During a high-level consultation meeting on security, governance, and development held on Sunday in Katsina, the governor revealed that the state government will provide 152 houses for displaced families in the Jibia Local Government Area.
As part of a reintegration program, the government will also offer business support packages, cattle, and industrial tools to repentant bandits. This initiative is designed to foster community reintegration and reduce the cycle of violence.
Governor Radda emphasized that security is a top priority for his administration, which also focuses on education, agriculture, healthcare, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal-Jobe highlighted that the government has successfully created 35,903 jobs under its Building Your Future policy, which includes the recruitment of teachers, ward heads, community watch members, hunters, vigilantes, and religious leaders as part of a peacebuilding framework.
In terms of urban development, the deputy governor noted progress under the N74.9 billion Urban Renewal Project, which encompasses Daura, Funtua, and Katsina Senatorial Districts. Completed projects include the 24-kilometre Eastern Bypass and several road dualization initiatives in Katsina town.
The administration has also made significant strides in education, constructing 160 new classrooms, rehabilitating 258, and training 18,000 teachers. Moreover, ₦6.18 billion in scholarships has been awarded to 174,451 students, including those pursuing studies abroad.
In agriculture, the government distributed 400,000 bags of subsidized fertilizer annually, procured 400 tractors, and launched a Goat Rearing Initiative aimed at empowering women and herders.
On healthcare, the deputy governor confirmed the construction or upgrade of 260 primary health centers and the establishment of dialysis and diagnostic centers. Workers’ welfare has also been prioritized, with ₦24 billion allocated for gratuities, wage awards, and food distributions.
Additionally, the government has invested ₦14.6 billion in water projects, completed major dams, and expanded irrigation schemes. In the energy sector, ₦3.84 billion has been allocated for solar mini-grids and streetlight installations.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, attributed the rise in banditry to factors such as greed, resource conflicts exacerbated by climate change, and long-standing social injustices. He noted that while banditry expanded from five local government areas between 2011 and 2015 to 25 after the collapse of the amnesty program, peace initiatives in various communities have been driven by local efforts.
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