By Yakubu Lawal
The Katsina State Government has commenced plans to create thousands of job opportunities through the establishment of an Agro-Allied Industrial Park in Batagarawa Local Government Area.
As part of the initiative, the state government has set aside 150 hectares of land for the project at Tashar Bala village in Batagarawa LGA. The proposed industrial park will also extend to neighbouring communities including Kaukai, Kadiyawa, Kwanar Dutse, Unguwar Liman, and parts of Abukur located in Rimi and Batagarawa Local Government Areas.
To facilitate the development, the state government has paid about ₦270 million as compensation to landowners whose farmlands were affected by the project.
The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita, presented compensation cheques to the beneficiaries during a ceremony held at the Batagarawa Local Government Secretariat.
In addition to monetary compensation, the state government has also allocated alternative farmland at Tsanni Forest to the affected farmers. A total of 863 individuals whose farmlands were impacted by the project have been given new land allocations along with official land titles.
Under a new compensation policy introduced by the administration of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, farmers who lost 10 hectares of farmland were allocated 15 hectares of land with legal titles.
Similarly, residents whose houses were affected by the project will be allocated plots of land close to the project site and provided with financial support to rebuild their homes.
The Agro-Allied Industrial Park is part of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA), which the Katsina State Government is implementing in partnership with development partners.
The project is expected to attract agro-allied processing companies and create employment opportunities for residents, particularly in host communities.
Officials say the industrial park will also complement the Central Agricultural Mechanisation Centre earlier established by the Radda administration at Tashar Bala village.
The government believes the initiative will further harness Katsina State’s agricultural potential, boost economic activities in the affected communities, and improve the socio-economic well-being of residents.
The project forms part of Governor Radda’s “Building Your Future” agenda aimed at diversifying the state’s economy and strengthening its agricultural value chain.
Yakubu Lawal is the PRO, MLPP, Katsina
