Radda tackling lack of confidence, boosts Katsina LGs with N10bn

The Katsina State Government has released over N10bn from May 2023 to date for various developmental projects and to tackle insecurity in the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

Arewa According exclusively learnt that this expenditure is with a view to ensuring development at the various council levels and to encourage residents to live and migrate to the rural areas.

The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Professor Badamosi Lawal, who made the revelation in an interview with  Arewa According explained that Governor Dikko Radda has a passion for the development of council areas in the state, hence the release of the funds for the projects.

He added that the governor had at various times approved the release of N1.8 billion; N1.7 billion, and N2.4 billion since the current administration came into office in 2023.

The Commissioner also pointed out that the Governor facilitated the deployment of 1,500 Community Watch Corps to the eight councils in the state with a view to assisting the regular security agencies to tackle banditry and other crimes in the councils.

Lawal further informed our correspondent that Gov Radda had equally directed the resuscitation of 1,500 vigilante groups in all the 34 local Government Areas of the state and to ensure that ward heads totalling 6,652 as well as three officials, including the imam in each of identified 2,500 mosques across the state were placed on monthly stipend with a view to monitoring what goes on in their respective councils.

The Commissioner revealed, “His Excellency, Governor Dikko Radda is passionate about the development in our council areas. He has  put in place the necessary strategies to ensure security in the councils, especially in the eight council areas we have tagged to be prone councils because of security challenges there.

 “The councils are: Jibia, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume.

“Over N10 billion has been spent to ensure security and for  various developmental projects  from 2023 when we came into office and to date. On security alone, N5.4 billion and N2 billion were released at various times for the procurement of arms and ammunition including purchase of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers that were purchased and deployed to the eight prone councils I mentioned.

“Earlier, 1500 youths were also screened and trained before they were deployed to these eight councils to aid security in the areas. Also, Hilux patrol vehicles were deployed to allow for effective patrol and monitoring of the 34 local government areas. While each of the eight prone councils got three patrol vehicles, the other councils got one patrol vehicle each.

“Also, 700 motorcycles purchased for the purpose of security were equally deployed to all the council areas just as thè Community Watch Corps were also placed on a monthly stipend of N30,000 each,”

Lawal, insisted that, “with the assistance of the governor, no fewer than 1,500 vigilante members across all the councils were resuscitated, all with a view to assisting in ensuring the safety of our people in the council areas.”

According to the Commissioner, Governor Radda had also ensured that agriculture is resuscitated in all the local government areas, revealing that N1.9 billion was released specifically for the scheme. He cited the dry season farming irrigation that has been aided in all the councils with the installation of solar powered bore holes.

The Commissioner explained more, “His Excellency has a special passion for agriculture. With his assistance, we have identified six areas in each council where we install solar powered boreholes. 10 farmers have been attached to each area for dry season farming. The farmers, totalling 2,040 have been given improved seedlings of water melon cabbage, tomato, etc; and have received training on how to ensure good cultivation and yields. This is with a view to improving farming yields in the state.

“Apart from this , normal farming activities are  also being encouraged to assist the state to become food  basket of the nation, again.”

The Commissioner while maintaining that the various councils have been engaged in various projects that would assist communities within the councils cited the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of schools, especially classrooms, construction of drainages and culverts; construction and rehabilitation of roads including asphalt and feeder roads, among others, in some councils as part of the developmental projects.

He pointed out, “As we are discussing now, I am telling you that there is no council area that is not embarking on any development project or the other. The projects will boost development in council areas and further provide jobs for the residents of the areas and also attract businessmen to the council areas. In Kankia, Kankara, Malunfashi, Katsina, and other councils, either a feeder road or an asphalt road is being constructed with a view to opening up the council areas for further development.”

 Lawal mentioned such councils as Jibia, Matazu, Kurfi, Musawa, and Maashi, where new vehicles had been bought to boost transportation and health centres  constructed for the healthcare programme of the residents.

 Thus, he remarked further, “Local Government Areas in Katsina State have brighter future as more and more developmental projects are being executed and as more funds are being made available for them.”