Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has unveiled 15-year masterplans for Katsina, Daura and Funtua, with implementation set to begin immediately and the framework to be extended to all 34 local government areas of the state.
The 2025–2040 masterplans, officially gazetted, are designed to guide physical, economic and social development in the three major urban centres while addressing rapid population growth, infrastructure deficits and environmental challenges.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at Government House, Katsina, Radda described the initiative as a historic milestone in the state’s urban renewal drive and a decisive shift from decades of weak planning enforcement.
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda
“The last comprehensive masterplans for these cities were developed in 1978 and were meant to operate for only 25 years. Despite several attempts at review, those efforts were never completed until now. Today, we are laying a solid foundation for the future of our urban centres,” the governor said.
He stressed that the plans would not remain theoretical documents, noting that urban renewal projects, road construction, drainage systems and land administration reforms were already underway to align with the new blueprint.
Radda said the state’s 2026 budget of over ₦857 billion — the largest in its history — provides financial backing for the implementation of the masterplans. He added that an Executive Order establishing formal planning areas has been signed to give legal force to zoning and development control.
According to him, the Urban and Regional Planning Board has been revitalised and equipped with modern development control tools worth more than ₦700 million to ensure orderly growth. Traditional rulers and land vendors have also been integrated into the process, with land transactions now required to be formally reported and vendors registered.
The governor warned that poor implementation of earlier plans contributed to the emergence of slums, recurrent flooding, desertification and overcrowded neighbourhoods, saying the new framework is intended to prevent a recurrence.
He further disclosed that the masterplans for Katsina, Daura and Funtua represent the first phase of a broader statewide planning initiative that will gradually cover all local government areas.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Prof. Faisal Umar Kaita, said the plans were critical to managing projected population growth in the state. He noted that Katsina’s population, currently estimated at about 12 million, is expected to exceed 21 million by 2040, underscoring the urgency of structured urban planning.
Kaita described the unveiling as a pivotal moment, adding that the masterplans would promote economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and improved quality of life.
In his technical presentation, Prof. Yakubu Aliyu Bununu explained that the masterplans align with global and national frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals, Nigeria’s National Urban Development Policy and the New Urban Agenda.
He said the documents focus on evidence-based planning, climate resilience and the integration of technology and sustainability. Key proposals cover land use management, transportation systems with future mass transit corridors, housing development through public-private partnerships, structured commercial zones, expanded utilities and green infrastructure.
Implementation will be phased into short-, medium- and long-term targets, supported by a dedicated Masterplan Implementation Unit, strengthened legal frameworks and continuous monitoring mechanisms.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers, security chiefs, traditional institution representatives and other stakeholders.
