Governor Dikko Radda has never held back in declaring the achievements of his administration, especially in the areas of security, medical tourism, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, infrastructure and others. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE writes:
During a media chat held to mark his second year in office, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda in a mid-term review of his administration’s performance since assuming office in 2023,listed most of his performances to include: establishment of the best dialysis centre, upgrading of 158 Primary Health Center, PHCs, clearing backlog of pension and gratuity, procurement of 400 tractors, agriculture equipment to revolutionize the state agricultural sector, as well as renovation and upgrading of over 150 primary schools alongside 75 junior and senior secondary schools.
Also during the anniversary briefing held at the Government House, Katsina, the Governor described the milestone as moments of honest reflection to account for the trust the people of Katsina placed on him and the government when he was given their mandate to lead.
He said: “I made a promise to build a future where every citizen, regardless of background or status, can live with dignity, opportunity, and security. That promise remains my solemn oath.”
“My development blueprint, titled ‘Building Your Future’, underwent rigorous assessment through a blueprint committee comprising 11 sub-committees and over 200 experts, many of whom now serve in my administration.”
“This administration established several key institutions to drive development, including the Katsina State Development Management Board, the Strategic Policy Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (SPIME), the first-of-its-kind Katsina State Irrigation Authority and the nationally recognized Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency, KASEDA. for MSMEs.”
“We recognized that institutions are nothing without the people, so we introduced merit-based promotions starting with the competency-based appointment of permanent secretaries.”
“In another unprecedented achievement, we cleared the backlog of pension and gratuity for the state and local government, allowing the state to focus on the new contributory pension scheme.”
The governor further explained that a comprehensive 2,000-page staff audit and skills gap analysis report is under review for implementation.
Tackling banditry and security challenges
The Nation recalled that tackling banditry and security challenges were inherited upon assuming office as Governor Radda noted, adding that insecurity affected 26 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
He emphasised his administration’s commitment to the fight against banditry, noting: “The fight against banditry and insecurity were a major pledge during my campaign, and that I would expend all the necessary resources to fight it.”
Governor Radda further noted the establishment of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps
He said “We did not waste any time in passing the law and setting up the community-driven security outfit, which has inspired other states”.
“We have made significant gains in the fight against insecurity, but much more must be done to eradicate banditry and other forms of criminality. We continue to work with the Federal Government and the military to bring an end to this menace.
“We will continue our policy of supporting victims rather than paying ransoms to bandits,” while calling on citizens to “work with the authorities and provide information where it will lead to the arrest or termination of bandits.”
On Food security
Addressing food insecurity, Governor Radda outlined massive investments in agriculture and livestock development. The administration has supported thousands of farmers with small-scale irrigation technologies and established the Katsina State Agricultural Mechanization Centre.
“With 400 tractors, matching implements, combined harvesters, planters, mobile irrigation rigs and other equipment, we are set to revolutionize the sector,” the governor announced, adding that extension workers increased from 74 to over 780.
“The next step is to establish processing zones to create value addition and consumer products in the sector. Katsina will become a net exporter of processed agricultural products soon,”
Health Care
The governor further reported significant progress in healthcare delivery, stating his commitment to “providing one fully functional primary healthcare centre in each of the 361 wards in my first term,” with 158 currently completed.
Major healthcare investments include recruiting 638 additional workers, sponsoring 41 students abroad for medical studies, and establishing “the best dialysis centre in the country”.
Education
In education, the governor reported building over 150 primary schools and 75 junior and senior secondary schools since he took office, describing this feat as the fastest rate in the state’s history. adding that an additional 77 secondary schools are currently under construction.
The administration has also recruited over 7,250 teachers and is introducing computer technology to schools for early exposure to modern education.
He said: “Education is a collective responsibility, and we are all accountable. Families and communities must be at the forefront of education reform.”
Speaking on infrastructure, Governor Radda announced the completion of all inherited road projects and the construction of new ones, including the recently commissioned 24-kilometre Eastern Bypass, which “will expand our capital city and serve our people for decades to come”.
“This administration has embraced technology, launching a fully digitized Treasury Single Account and automating our revenue collection service, leading to significant revenue growth and improved transparency’’.
“We have been able to start implementing over 90% of the policies in my blueprint and by the will of Allah we will complete them all while introducing new ones.”
“Our strategy for the next two years is to improve the utilization and optimization of the investments we met and made over the past two years. Every good action we have taken will be expanded, and any misstep will be eliminated to the best of our ability.”
Katsina Varsity Mgt. denies ASUU accusation of withholding information about paucity of funds
The management of the Katsina State owned: Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, UMYU, has dismissed allegations by the varsity’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, about its failure to tell the students, government and the academic community the truth, about paucity of funds to execute infrastructural projects as well as provide essential amenities that were lacking in the university
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Academic, Professor Yusuf El’Ladan, while dismissing the union’s allegations said the varsity management regularly interfaces with government, students and the university community, during varsity congregations as approved by statutory bye laws.
On funding allocations and budgetary provisions for planned infrastructural developments, he further stated that the varsity is running an open administration that carries every stake holder along in the scheme of things
He said: “The management strictly abides by university bye-laws on twice regular congregation in a year and meetings with the unions”
“If there’s any university in the country with regular meetings and interface with staff, students and the unions, it’s UMYU.
“Each time the unions requests for meetings with the management, we are always ready to grant such requests.”
On the lack of regular supply of essential commodities including water, electricity in students hostels and lecture halls as well as security in the campuses, the DVC maintained that the university is presently doing its best in the provisions of essential amenities on the campuses as well as security, adding that the present situation on water and electricity supplies in the universities is nationwide, without any exception.
He said: “The management had constructed boreholes and hired water tanks for emergency water supplies and augment supply shortages’’
“There is also an ongoing arrangements with TETFund for power supplies that will address persistent national grid collapse and the slack in power supplies ‘’
The Nation recalled that the Chairman of ASUU, UMYU branch, Dr Mutalla Abdullah Kwara, had during a media chat with newsmen at the secretariat of the union outlined what he called “tripartite challenges affecting the smooth running of the Katsina State owned university”.
Radda doles N4bn to lift katsina’s Women Project, Says over 800,000 Women will benefit
Governor Radda has announced budgetary allocation of N4 billion to support women-focused economic programs in Katsina.
He made this known during the North West Scale-Up Summit of the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), held in Katsina.
The summit brought together stakeholders from across the region, including Commissioners for Women Affairs from Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Gombe, and Jigawa, senior federal officials, traditional leaders, representatives of development partners, and women leaders from grassroots organizations.
In his remarks, Governor Radda emphasized that the Nigeria for Women Project is more than just a policy adding that it is a transformative grassroots movement built on dignity, inclusion, and resilience.
The governor further revealed that over 800,000 women in Katsina are expected to benefit from the expanded implementation of the project, which currently operates in Katsina, Daura, and Funtua local government areas.
He said: “This will be achieved through the formation of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), access to microcredit, entrepreneurship training, and community-based cooperatives.”
“Our women are not waiting to be helped—they are already leading change. We are simply giving them the platform.”
Governor Radda also announced that Katsina State will match the existing World Bank funding to scale the project across all 34 local governments in the state. He noted that this commitment is backed by the allocation of N4 billion in the 2025 budget to support women-focused economic programs, along with the creation of gender desks in every local government.
On her part, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the Nigeria for Women Project as the most coordinated and impactful gender equity initiative ever implemented in Nigeria.
