Katsina’s Effective Grassroots Tool For Curbing Insecurity And Alleviating Poverty

In November of 2024, the Katsina state government launched the CDP, community development programme; an initiative designed to empower the grassroots by collaboration and partnership with community leaders, stakeholders, traditional rulers, and indigenes of these communities.

To drive the CDP, 361 community development centres were launched across the state, with 1 centre in each ward of the 34 local government areas of the state. The centres were created with 3 different layers: community development, community support, and community learning which were all designed to address infrastructure deficits, enhance social services, promote learning, and provide economic empowerment.

The CDP was designed to operate with the simple notion of community-driven development, where govt policies and programmes will be shaped by priorities itemised by each community, as opposed to a blanket approach that is not only wasteful, but doesn’t resolve the core problems situated in unique communities’ needs. The governor had already kick-started the autonomization of the local governments long before the Supreme Court judgment on LG autonomy.

Just about a year after launching the CDP model, the Katsina state governor embarked on a state-wide tour of all 34 local government areas of the state. This was to assess, engage, and flag off key projects in each LGA. This tour, in consonance with the mood of the CDP, set out to ensure that each community felt the impact of government investments and development programmes directly.

The essence of the tour was to meet community leaders, traditional rulers, as well as residents, and hear directly from them so as to understand their priority needs, and then gather inputs from the grassroots for better planning and implementation of government projects across the state. At Danja LG, the governor highlighted the completion of the Danja Earth Dam, the planned Hydro Power project, the ongoing renovation of schools and health facilities, and several other road projects.

At Malumfashi local govt, the governor flagged off the empowerment of 1,859 community residents. The programme included the provision of 6 cars, 21 motorcycles, 122 sewing machines, 200 Flour Mills, and food support for 200 women. Others are: 200 POS machines loaded with N100,000 each as start-up funds, 200 NBAIS forms, and 14 cows for 140 butchers. It also included N20,000 grants to 600 small business owners, N30,000 for 1,000 beneficiaries, and 20 wheelchairs. All these were fully funded with LG funds by the LG chairman.

At Kafur LG, the chairman funded the provision of 600 bags of cement, 25 motorcycles, 50 sewing machines, 4 cars, 100 grinding machines, and an additional N20 million as community support. The governor then flagged off the N18.5 billion Sabuwa-Tashar Bawa-Rafin Iwa road project, which is a 27.6 km asphalt concrete road, a major milestone in the administration’s drive to open up rural communities for better statewide connectivity.

At the event, the governor explained that the entire corridor is home to hardworking farmers and the road would enhance agricultural value chains, ease the movement of farm produce, and reduce transportation challenges, especially during the rainy season. At Sabuwa LG, about 1500 women received grants in a drive to strengthen micro and small-scale businesses.

The programme saw to the distribution of 10,000 books, 1,000 school uniforms, and 40 bicycles for pupils from vulnerable households who walk long distances from school. 300 students were also sponsored for JAMB with a component of 6 weeks of intensive training to improve their admission chances. Other empowerment items include 80 grinding machines, 10 maize-shelling machines, and 50 sewing machines, aimed at promoting micro-enterprises and improving revenue generation. While at Sabuwa LG, the governor flagged off the foundation laying of one of the four newly approved Girls’ Secondary Schools in Sabuwa.

At Dandume LG, another massive empowerment programme covering 11 wards of the community, focusing on vulnerable youths and women was also flagged off. 6 cars to enhance governance and engagement, and 62 motorcycles to APC LG Exco, ward chairmen, ward governorship coordinators, village heads, and campaign coordinators, were distributed. 105 solar streetlights were also installed across the 11 wards to improve security. The programme also had skills acquisition materials, including 110 sewing machines, 110 grinding machines, 110 Engine Taliya units, 110 bags of Evane Mai Buje, 130 bags of 25kg food items, 110 bags of Soya beans, 110 additional food bags, and 110 units of cooking oil. Also, 100 youths received N100,000 each with more funds as assistance to APC leaders across the LG.

At Funtua LG, the governor stressed that the empowerment phase so far has demonstrated his government’s commitment to ensuring that every community benefits so that livelihoods can be improved for a better future. At Funtua, 360 less privileged men and women received the support of N20,000 each. Other items distributed include 55 grinding machines, 55 pumping irrigation machines, 16 robaroba units, 22 boxer motorcycles, 15 sewing machines, and 3 motor vehicles.

Alongside the tour was a massive empowerment programme by the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Political Matters, Alh. Ibrahim Kabiru Masari with a capital donation of N300,000 to 1,000 beneficiaries at Malumfashi. At Musawa, there was N100,000 for 175 youths, 100 tea and bread vendors with N50,000 each, 100 Okada operators with N50,000 each, and 100 women with small and micro businesses such as bean-cake, doughnuts, and other snacks receiving N50,000 each. Another 100 barbers got N50,000 each, and 100 butchers also got N50,000 each.

More items include 50 motorcycles, motor cars, 110 grinding machines, 110 pepper-grinding machines, irrigation and farming tools, 222 bags of Urea fertilizer, 177 bags of WACOT fertilizer, and 57 water pumping machines. At Daura, the governor inaugurated the 13.5 km western bypass with an 11.3km link road connecting Dunu village to Ganga and continuing to Dimurkol village. At Daura, the speaker was also commended by the governor for providing scholarships for over 600 students who are indigenes of Daura.

There just isn’t enough space to exhaust the grassroots empowerment drive of the Dikko Radda administration. I have, in the last two years, been a keen observer of Dikko Radda, PhD’s leadership style. His governance model is significantly grassroots-oriented, and his consistent community engagement tours and town hall meetings across the villages in the state are obvious hallmarks of a truly community-driven government.

Projects are strategically placed in areas with specific needs and resources in the form of empowerment funds and business materials or machines are thrust in the hands of the locals; so that they can collectively revive their local economies. This will, within no time, erode the terrorism ecosystem that thrives in poverty-laden communities where residents are left with few options. The CDP is a very good model that can be replicated in other states just the way Katsina’s Community Watch Corps is now being replicated in Kano, Niger, and Zamfara.

Even the FG’s Forest Guards are not far off from the design and operations of the Katsina Community Watch Corps. Katsina, in the last two years, has been churning out fine blueprints for community development, and I believe a leaf or two from the brainy Dr. Dikko won’t be a bad idea across the north. In fact, the transparency routine of his programmes, if adopted by the Federal Government, can make a world of difference to the lower class of the Nigerian populace in general.