By Haidar Aliyu
In the last ten days of the recent Ramadan, I received an invitation from our colleague, Muhammad Danjuma Katsina, publisher of Katsina Times and Katsina City News. He invited us for Sallah celebrations and a social gathering.
Our visit—alongside other guests he had invited from different states—offered us a rare opportunity to see Katsina State firsthand and to ask questions about developments across various parts of the state.
What we saw on the ground was both surprising and thought-provoking. It even led me to wonder: is there any governor in Nigeria today matching the pace of development we observed in Katsina? Only a thorough investigation can answer that definitively, but what we witnessed was truly remarkable.
Travelling from Kaduna through Funtua, where we stopped briefly to pay a courtesy visit, we encountered extensive road expansion works in the historic town—home to many notable figures.
We were also informed about the ongoing dam project in Danja, which we took time to inspect. From what we saw, the project has the potential to significantly transform the economic landscape of the area.
In Kafin Soli, we were shown a major water project—arguably one of the largest of its kind in the region.
We also saw land earmarked for a controversial initiative known as the “urban farming” project. It is said to be a collaboration between a private company and the Federal Government, with the state government providing land and institutional backing, including guarantees to financial institutions.
At the outskirts of Dandagoro, just before entering Katsina city, we came across a newly constructed road reportedly linking Batagarawa to Shinkafi. Locals refer to it as part of the “new Katsina expansion corridor,” designed to open up and extend the city.
We also observed a large-scale agricultural mechanisation initiative, including a tractor assembly programme said to have been adapted from Niger State. The goal, we were told, is to provide farmers with widespread access to modern equipment.
What we saw along the الطريق compelled us, barely a day after arriving, to tour Katsina city itself.
There, we encountered an impressive network of road projects—comparable, in design and coordination, to what one might expect in Abuja.
A defining feature of the city’s layout is that from virtually any entry point, one can navigate to the city centre without difficulty, thanks to a network of dual carriageways.
From Daura Road to the central mosque and emir’s palace, the roads are dualised. The same applies from Mani Road through Yan Boko (Low Cost) to Kofar Marusa, and from Kofar Guga through the old market to the emir’s palace.
Work is ongoing to extend dual carriageways from Shinkafi axis to the city centre, as well as along the IBB Road corridor connecting incoming traffic from Kano.
Construction activity is intense—demolitions, drainage systems, and roadworks are progressing simultaneously, with compensation already being paid for affected properties along routes such as Kofar Yandaka to the emir’s palace, and extending toward Rafin Dadi.
From a copy of Katsina City News I read at our hotel, I learned that over ₦20 billion had been paid in gratuities to retired civil servants—a staggering figure.
The state has also recruited over 5,000 teachers and more than 2,000 healthcare workers.
Near the Katsina Times office at Kofar Kaura, I noticed a shop branded “Kantin Sauƙi” (Affordable Shop), where civil servants can purchase food items on credit, deducted from their salaries at the end of the month, with subsidised pricing.
We also visited the Amadi Rimi Orthopaedic Hospital in Batagarawa, where a modern dialysis centre has been completed—reportedly one of the most advanced in the country. There are ongoing efforts to position the facility as a regional medical hub for Nigerians and neighbouring countries.
Despite these strides, one major gap stood out.
Historically, Katsina has been a global centre of learning. Yet, its state library remains one of the most underdeveloped in Nigeria. The facility still operates from an old structure originally built for a local government council.
Globally, libraries have evolved into multi-functional knowledge hubs. However, Katsina appears to have lagged behind in this regard.
We were told that at different times, institutions from the United States and the United Kingdom had considered establishing sections within the library, even sending experts for assessment—but ultimately withdrew due to the poor state of the facility. Similar interest from Germany reportedly met the same fate.
An attempt by the previous administration of Aminu Bello Masari to construct a new library did not materialise before the end of its tenure.
Another critical issue we observed concerns federal roads linking Katsina to neighbouring states such as Kano and Kaduna. These roads are in severe disrepair.
The Kano–Katsina road project has stalled without clear explanation, despite being a vital commercial route. The Abuja–Kaduna–Katsina highway is progressing slowly, while the Katsina–Funtua–Sokoto road is also in poor condition.
Similarly, the Katsina–Daura road is deteriorating, with little visible maintenance.
In essence, the federal road network surrounding the state is in a troubling state.
From what we gathered, many residents expressed satisfaction with the performance of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. Salaries are being paid, gratuities settled, and projects are visible.
The only major concern frequently mentioned is security—an issue many believe lies largely within the purview of the Federal Government.
A trader near Katsina motor park summed it up bluntly: “Radda’s real challenge is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He argued that the economic hardship being experienced is largely due to fuel price increases—decisions beyond the state government’s control.
“On security, the state is doing what it can, but the bulk of responsibility lies with the Federal Government,” he added.
“In fact, if you see any problem being blamed on Radda, it is likely the result of Tinubu’s policies.”
Haidar Aliyu is the Editor of Caliphate Times (www.caliphatetimes.com).
