Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the release of ₦4 billion for the second phase of the Community Development Programme (CDP), with each of the state’s 361 political wards to receive ₦10 million for community-selected development projects.
The approval was among several key decisions taken at the 12th Regular Meeting of the Katsina State Executive Council for 2026, held on Wednesday at the General Muhammadu Buhari House, Government House, Katsina.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, said the council approved a number of memoranda aimed at strengthening grassroots development, women’s empowerment, education, economic reforms and public service delivery.
Coordinator of the Community Development Programme, Associate Professor Kamaladdeen Kabir, said the ₦4 billion allocation followed the successes recorded during the programme’s first phase and would enable Community Development Committees to implement projects identified by residents as their most pressing needs.
He said the initiative underscores Governor Radda’s commitment to grassroots development by allowing communities to determine and execute projects with direct impact on their lives.
The Executive Council also approved the state’s 2026 counterpart funding for the Nigeria for Women Project, a programme designed to improve the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable women through economic empowerment, social inclusion and better access to financial services.
Dr. Zango said Katsina had emerged as one of the leading implementing states under the programme due to the Radda administration’s commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive development.
He noted that the approval would further strengthen financial inclusion and improve household incomes across the state.
In the education sector, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, announced that the council approved the award of a contract for the supply and installation of Smart School Information Technology infrastructure at the newly established Model Secondary Schools in Jikamshi and Dumurkul.
According to him, the project includes smart classrooms, interactive digital boards, campus-wide ICT infrastructure and other modern learning technologies aimed at equipping students with digital skills for the 21st-century economy.
The council also endorsed the publication of the 2025 Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP) Progress Report as part of the state’s participation in the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme.
Economic Adviser Khalil Nur Khalil said the move reflects Katsina State’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business, strengthening governance reforms and attracting investment.
On water supply, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Malam Dasuki Abubakar, said the Executive Council approved the procurement of water treatment chemicals for the second quarter of 2026.
He added that the council also approved the deployment of water tanker trucks to supply residents of Katsina metropolis during the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the state waterworks, expected to last about two weeks.
According to him, the temporary measure is intended to ensure uninterrupted access to potable water while the rehabilitation works are being completed.
The approvals, according to government officials, reflect the Radda administration’s continued focus on grassroots development, women’s economic empowerment, technology-driven education, business reforms and improved access to safe drinking water across Katsina State.
