Katsina State Executive Council, led by the Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the construction of 20.37 kilometres of township roads in three local government areas and reduced annual renewal and revalidation fees for private schools, as part of a package of major policy and infrastructure decisions aimed at improving education, innovation, water supply and public safety.
The approvals were made during the 10th Regular Meeting of the Katsina State Executive Council for 2026, held at the General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) House in Katsina and presided over by the governor.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, said the council approved contracts for the dualisation of a 3.0-kilometre Mashi Township Road, construction of 6.67 kilometres of roads in Bakori, and 10.7 kilometres of roads in Malumfashi, covering a total of 20.37 kilometres.
The Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Sani Magaji Ingawa, said the projects form part of Governor Radda’s commitment to improving road infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and stimulating economic activities across the state.
The Executive Council also approved a reduction in fees payable by private schools following a request by the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools.
According to Dr. Zango, the annual renewal fee was reduced by 33 per cent, from ₦210,000 to ₦140,000, while the revalidation fee was cut by 40 per cent, from ₦200,000 to ₦120,000.
He said the decision was intended to help private schools retain qualified teachers, preserve jobs and improve the quality of education in the state.
In another decision, the council approved the establishment of an Innovation Unit at the Katsina Youth Craft Village Centre under the Ministry of Higher, Vocational and Technical Education.
The facility will serve as a hub for technology, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, equipping young people with skills to drive technological advancement and enterprise development.
The Executive Council also approved contracts for 2026 flood and erosion control projects in 37 communities identified by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Mannir Ayuba Sullubawa, said the intervention was aimed at protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure from flood disasters.
The council further approved an addendum to the Zobe Phase 1B Water Supply Project to provide potable water to Rimi and Safana townships.
Sullubawa said the project would improve access to safe and reliable water while ensuring equitable distribution to the benefiting communities.
On gender issues, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, disclosed that the council received an advocacy delegation from the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum on strengthening the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
She said the delegation, led by the First Lady of Katsina State, Hajiya Zulaihatu Dikko Radda, alongside officials of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Ford Foundation, engaged the state government on measures to protect women and girls.
According to the commissioner, Governor Radda signed a communiqué reaffirming the state’s commitment to implementing policies and programmes that prevent gender-based violence and protect the rights, dignity and safety of women and girls.
The decisions reached at the meeting reflect the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote youth development, improve education, expand infrastructure, strengthen water security and enhance the welfare of residents across Katsina State.
