KATSINA — The Katsina State Government has approved a 20-megawatt solar power intervention expected to save about ₦7 billion in electricity and diesel costs, as it targets 70MW of power-generation capacity by 2031.
The approval was given on Wednesday at the 17th Regular Meeting of the State Executive Council for 2026, presided over by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Executive Chamber of the General Muhammadu Buhari House, Katsina.
The Special Adviser on Power and Energy, Dr Hafiz Ahmed, said the project involves the procurement and installation of Balance-of-System accessories for solar photovoltaic inverters and battery energy storage systems at 11 critical public facilities.
The facilities include Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, three waterworks and a booster station, General Amadi Rimi Hospital, Turai Yaradua Maternity Hospital, the State House of Assembly and the State High Court.
Ahmed said the facilities account for 93.4 per cent of the state government’s electricity expenditure, adding that savings from grid electricity and diesel generators could recover the project’s investment in about three and a half years.
He said Katsina had zero power-generation capacity when the Radda administration assumed office but had now exceeded 30MW. The state is targeting 70MW by 2031 under an Integrated Resource Plan developed in partnership with Power Africa.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, who coordinated the post-council briefing, said the meeting also approved interventions in youth development, education, sports, roads, healthcare, rural development and environmental management.
Among the decisions was a ₦10,000 monthly allowance for 2,500 youths, according to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Surajo Yazeed Abukur.
The council also approved the maiden Katsina State Inter-Wards Grassroots Football Tournament, as well as external works for the Special Model Secondary Schools in Jikamshi and Dumurkul to facilitate their take-off.
Jibia said the council further adopted recommendations from the Teachers Voice Survey on English-language proficiency and instructional leadership, aimed at strengthening curriculum delivery and teacher deployment.
For road infrastructure, the council approved the procurement of a brand-new Caterpillar asphalt paver for the Katsina State Roads Maintenance Agency (KASROMA). It also approved a review of the additional contract sum for ongoing works at Katsina House in Abuja.
The council approved motorcycles for each of the state’s 34 LGAs to improve access to rural and hard-to-reach communities.
In healthcare, contracts were approved for renovation and additional structures at the General Hospitals in Jibia, Batsari and Ingawa. The Primary Health Care Centre in Bindawa was also approved for upgrade to a Maternal and Child Hospital, alongside renovation of the Doctors’ Quarters at General Hospital, Katsina.
The council also constituted a committee of relevant ministries, departments and agencies to advise government on measures to address environmental and infrastructural threats.
The decisions formed part of the council’s broader interventions in energy, youth empowerment, education, sports, healthcare, roads and rural development.
