KATSINA — Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has formally transferred the Kogo Forest Reserve in Faskari Local Government Area to the Federal Government as part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and promote sustainable forest management.
The transfer was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at Government House, Katsina, at the end of the 18th National Council on the Environment meeting, which lasted two days. The event also coincided with a courtesy visit by the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Radda said the handover aligned with the state’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stronger collaboration with the Federal Government.
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda
He noted that hosting the National Council on the Environment meeting provided an opportunity for participants to witness development efforts in Katsina State firsthand, beyond what he described as negative media narratives.
The governor disclosed that the state is pursuing an aggressive renewable energy programme, with a target of generating 25 megawatts of solar power by 2026, while an additional 10 megawatts is already in the pipeline.
According to him, Katsina State has also handed over a windmill power project to the Federal Government, with processes ongoing to make it fully operational. He added that the state is implementing Nigeria’s first hybrid wind-solar power project in Lambar Rimi, expected to generate 12 megawatts within the Green Economy Zone.
Governor Radda further explained that the state has identified 12 major government institutions responsible for about 92 per cent of public sector energy consumption and has begun transitioning them to renewable energy sources.
He said Government House is now powered by a one-megawatt solar system, the General Hospital has been connected to solar power, and the State Secretariat is fully solar-powered and no longer dependent on the national grid.
On environmental security, the governor described deforestation as a major regional and national challenge, warning that commercial charcoal production is increasingly linked to organised criminal activities. He noted that between 70 and 80 per cent of forest areas remain ungoverned, posing serious environmental and security risks that require decisive federal intervention.
Governor Radda also highlighted the impact of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme in Jibia and Kaita Local Government Areas, saying the interventions helped prevent flooding in the state last year.
He added that the state has secured approval for a one-megawatt hydroelectric power project at Danja Dam, to be implemented in partnership with the French Treasury, with plans to replicate similar projects across other dams in the state.
Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal
Earlier, the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said Katsina State has improved its ranking in national environmental performance from third to second position.
He noted that the state now compares favourably with others that have significantly larger resources and stressed that environmental management is closely linked to public health outcomes.
According to the minister, proper environmental sanitation, including the clearing of stagnant water, could prevent up to 70 per cent of common health challenges. He attributed flooding to climate change, human activities, blocked waterways and negligence, and disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment is introducing measures such as floodwater harvesting for dry-season farming and improved plastic waste management.
The event was attended by the Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale; the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; the Special Adviser on Climate Change, Professor Al-Ameen Muhammad; and members of the Katsina State Executive Council.
