By Our Reporter
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has commissioned 152 housing units for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jibia Local Government Area and announced the disbursement of ₦500 million in grants to support 500 residents in rebuilding their livelihoods.
The housing scheme, alongside Climate Peace Hubs and a Solar Mini Grid, was inaugurated in Jibia on Thursday as part of efforts to support post-conflict recovery, promote peace and improve living conditions in communities affected by insecurity.
Governor Radda said the project was executed through a partnership involving the Katsina State Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Government through GIZ, and the Norwegian Government.
“What was then a vision is today a living reality. Recall vividly, we gathered in October 2024 to flag off these projects. That is what hope, partnership and resolute action can build together,” the governor said.
He explained that the state government provided land for the estate as well as supporting infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, access roads, drainage systems, a school, worship centres and furniture.
Beyond the housing project, Radda said the government had channelled ₦500 million through the Katsina State Enterprises Development Agency (KASEDA) as grants to 500 beneficiaries in Jibia to revive businesses and restore livelihoods disrupted by insecurity.
The governor disclosed that Jibia had recorded no deliberate attack or kidnapping in the past one year, attributing the development to ongoing security and peace-building efforts.
“Farmers have returned to their fields. Markets are reopening. Children are back in school. Prices of staple foods are easing. Across the state, productivity has risen and hope is rising where fear once reigned,” he said.
He called on residents to safeguard the prevailing peace, stressing that security was a collective responsibility.
“Peace is not the work of government alone. It is built in every household, every market, every mosque and church, every classroom,” he said.
Radda also extended an appeal to individuals involved in criminal activities to embrace peace and reintegration.
“There is a better way. The doors of dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open. Lay down your arms. Come back to your families and communities,” he urged.
Speaking at the event, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, commended the Katsina State Government for demonstrating strong commitment and ownership of the project through its counterpart funding.
She described the investments as a foundation for long-term recovery and sustainable development.
“Today’s investments are not the end of the story. They are the foundation for what comes next. They are helping to create the conditions for recovery, resilience and long-term development,” she said.
Attafuah noted that development and peace were closely linked, adding that investments in housing, livelihoods and economic opportunities contribute significantly to stability.
Also speaking, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annette Günther, praised the Katsina State Government for its substantial contribution to the project and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting peacebuilding, resilience and development initiatives in the state and the wider North-West region.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Prof. Abdulhameed Ahmed Mani, said construction of the estate commenced in October 2024 and was completed in mid-2025.
He explained that each of the 152 housing units comprises two bedrooms, a toilet, a bathroom and a spacious courtyard designed to accommodate small-scale farming and livestock rearing.
According to him, the estate is equipped with water facilities, access roads, streetlights and worship centres to ensure a decent living environment for beneficiaries.
Prof. Mani said beneficiaries were selected through a transparent process involving traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, youth representatives and government officials from all 11 wards of the local government area.
He disclosed that the intervention extended beyond housing, with 2,000 residents receiving agricultural and business support grants, while the Jibia cattle market was upgraded and a veterinary clinic established.
The commissioner added that border security personnel received training on cross-border trade relations, while local government staff were trained to provide counselling services to victims of banditry.
A special committee, he said, has been established to manage the estate and ensure its proper maintenance and peaceful coexistence among residents.
Representing the National Security Adviser, the Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Ambassador Abimbola Wonosiko, described the project as evidence of the power of partnership in promoting peace, security and sustainable development.
He stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military action alone but also through investments that strengthen livelihoods, social cohesion and resilience.
In his remarks, Chairman of Jibia Local Government, Hon. Sirajo Ado Jibia, thanked Governor Radda, UNDP and other partners for selecting the area as a beneficiary of the housing scheme and related development projects.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal, Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly Nasir Yahaya Daura, Chief of Staff Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, senior government officials, development partners and security stakeholders.
