KATSINA — Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called for civil-military cooperation that combines security operations with interventions addressing the social and economic needs of communities.
Radda made the call on Saturday while commissioning a 10,000-litre solar-powered borehole and a renovated Community Day Secondary School at Gidan Mutum Daya in Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The projects were executed by the Nigerian Navy under the Chief of the Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme in honour of Rear Admiral Aminu Abdullahi, an indigene of Gidan Mutum Daya and Director of Ship Spares at the Naval Headquarters.
The Governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal, commended the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Nigerian Navy for extending the intervention to the community.
He described the projects as a practical demonstration of civil-military cooperation, stressing that effective security must be complemented by interventions that address critical social and economic needs.
“The Nigerian Navy has demonstrated that security goes beyond kinetic operations. Security is also about building trust with communities, responding to critical social needs and creating conditions in which people can live, learn and prosper,” Radda said.
The school intervention included the renovation of the Community Day Secondary School, provision of classroom desks, additional toilet facilities, white marker boards and essential teaching and learning materials.
The Governor said the provision of water infrastructure and improvement of the school environment supported the state government’s human-capital development priorities, particularly in education and access to basic services.
Radda disclosed that the state government had invested more than ₦36.8 billion in security-related interventions, covering operational equipment, intelligence, training and support for security personnel and victims of banditry.
He said the administration had established the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, recruited personnel for community-level security operations and provided operational assets to strengthen local intelligence and support conventional security agencies.
According to him, the government had also introduced executive measures aimed at addressing activities considered capable of facilitating criminal operations and undermining security across the state.
The Governor said security efforts were being complemented by economic interventions, noting that more than 38,000 jobs had been created through various government programmes.
He added that more than 5,000 small and medium enterprises had accessed about ₦2.5 billion in funding support, contributing to the creation of about 15,000 jobs, while more than 200 entrepreneurship and skills-development programmes had been implemented.
Radda further said 14,450 women had received business support and start-up interventions across the 34 local government areas.
On education, the Governor said 152 schools had been constructed under the AGILE programme, including three special model schools, while more than 3,090 classrooms had been rehabilitated.
He added that 20,000 teachers had received tablets and digital training, while the former Department of Vocational and Technical Education had been upgraded to a full-fledged Ministry of Higher, Vocational and Technical Education.
Radda said a girls’ skills acquisition centre had also been established in Katsina, where more than 2,000 students had been trained and equipped with practical skills.
In healthcare, he said 271 of the state’s 361 wards had benefited from upgraded and equipped primary healthcare centres, while six Comprehensive Health Centres had been upgraded to General Hospitals.
The administration, he added, had recruited 808 health workers through the Health Services Management Board and 1,020 personnel through the Primary Healthcare Agency.
He also disclosed that 15 advanced life-support ambulances and 238 tricycle ambulances had been procured to strengthen emergency medical response and improve access to healthcare.
On agriculture, Radda said the state had continued to support farmers through subsidised fertiliser, improved seeds, irrigation interventions and mechanisation.
He said 400 tractors and 10 combine harvesters had been procured, while 361 young people were being trained at Songhai Farms in modern agriculture, agro-processing and agribusiness.
According to him, each of the trainees is expected to receive ₦1 million in seed capital upon completion of the programme.
He added that the government was implementing irrigation and water-development interventions, including the dredging of selected dams and drilling of boreholes to improve domestic water supply and support small-scale irrigation.
On infrastructure, the Governor said major road projects had been completed or were ongoing to improve mobility, urban connectivity and access to economic centres.
He cited the 24.5-kilometre Eastern Bypass corridor and the approximately 8.1-kilometre Yandaki–Shinkafi–Kofar Sauri road, alongside other road projects in Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Bakori, Malumfashi, Mashi and Kankia.
Radda further disclosed that contracts had been awarded for the reticulation of Dutsinma, Charanchi, Rimi, Batagarawa, Safana and Katsina from Zobe Dam, with work ongoing.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Director of Planning at Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Adamu Yahaya, said the Nigerian Navy recognised that security was strengthened when communities were empowered and their basic development needs addressed.
He said the Chief of Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme was designed to respond to critical needs in underserved communities while strengthening trust and cooperation between the Armed Forces and civilians.
According to him, the Gidan Mutum Daya intervention comprised the comprehensive renovation of the Community Day Secondary School, provision of classroom desks, additional toilet facilities and white marker boards, as well as the 10,000-litre solar-powered borehole.
Yahaya said the projects were intended to provide a more conducive learning environment, promote hygiene and contribute to improved academic performance.
He said the intervention was executed in honour of Rear Admiral Aminu Abdullahi, an indigene of the community.
Speaking on the projects, Rear Admiral Abdullahi said they were selected based on identified needs within Gidan Mutum Daya and urged residents to use the facilities responsibly and ensure their maintenance.
He said the initiative was aimed at strengthening the bond of trust between the Nigerian Navy and the people, adding that robust civil-military cooperation had remained an important component of the Navy’s engagement with communities since 2004.
The ceremony also featured the distribution of reading and writing materials, mathematical sets, school bags and other learning materials to students of the school.
Radda assured the Chief of Naval Staff of the continued support of the Katsina State Government for military operations and other lawful security activities in the state.
He also congratulated Rear Admiral Abdullahi on the recognition and the development project, and urged residents to take ownership of the facilities and protect them from damage to ensure their continued use by present and future generations.
The commissioning was attended by senior military officers, government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, education stakeholders and residents of Gidan Mutum Daya.
