Katsina Communities Revamp Over 3,900 Public Facilities

The Katsina State Community Development Programme (CDP) has facilitated the renovation and rehabilitation of more than 3,900 public facilities across the state’s 361 political wards, following the disbursement of ₦3.61 billion in community-managed grants by the administration of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

State Coordinator of the programme, Associate Professor Kamaluddeen Kabir, disclosed this during a media parley on Saturday, describing the initiative as a transformative model that places development planning and implementation directly in the hands of communities.

According to Kabir, each of the 361 wards received ₦10 million, bringing the total allocation to ₦3.61 billion, to enable residents identify and execute priority projects without the delays often associated with bureaucratic processes.

He said the intervention has so far led to the upgrade of more than 3,900 public facilities, including schools, primary healthcare centres, water supply systems, drainage infrastructure and solar-powered street lights, while several other projects remain ongoing.

“As of last month, the 361 communities have renovated and repaired over 3,900 public facilities within their domains. Many more projects are ongoing while others have been proposed,” he stated.

Kabir explained that the programme operates through a three-tier framework comprising the State Steering Committee, Joint Planning Committee and Community Development Committees established in every political ward.

He noted that each ward committee consists of 17 members drawn from various segments of the community, including traditional rulers, councillors, women, youths, persons with disabilities, community elders, and education and health sector representatives, ensuring broad-based participation in decision-making.

To support implementation, the state government recruited 1,083 personnel—three officers for each ward—to serve as Community Development Officers, Community Line Officers and Community Support Officers.

The coordinator said the committees are tasked with identifying priority projects, conducting town hall engagements, validating community needs and recommending beneficiaries for government intervention programmes.

Beyond infrastructure development, Kabir said the initiative has improved the effectiveness of empowerment programmes by enabling communities to identify genuine farmers, artisans, traders and business owners based on local knowledge and engagement.

He further revealed that all 361 wards participated in consultations whose recommendations were incorporated into the 2026 Appropriation Law.

According to him, Governor Radda has also directed the programme to commence another round of consultations to gather citizens’ inputs for the 2027 budget, further strengthening the administration’s commitment to participatory governance.

Kabir said the programme has enhanced community ownership of public projects, deepened citizens’ involvement in governance and increased the participation of women and persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.

Highlighting its impact, he cited a community that chose vocational training over additional infrastructure projects. The initiative, he said, produced more than seven trained plumbers who now maintain local water facilities, reducing reliance on neighbouring local government areas for repairs.

He described the Community Development Programme as a departure from centrally driven development models, noting that it empowers residents to determine their priorities and play an active role in implementing projects that directly affect their lives.

Kabir assured that the programme would continue to expand, with additional development projects and empowerment initiatives being planned to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable residents, traders, farmers and other citizens across Katsina State.