Radda Unveils ₦16.6bn Roads, MSME Projects to Boost Katsina Economy

Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has unveiled infrastructure and economic development projects valued at more than ₦16.6 billion, as his administration intensifies efforts to improve road networks, strengthen agriculture and expand support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The projects, executed across Katsina, Malumfashi and Batsari local government areas, form part of the governor's Building Your Future development agenda, which prioritises infrastructure renewal, economic diversification and grassroots development.

Among the flagship projects inaugurated were the reconstructed and dualised 3.9-kilometre Funtua–Katsina Road and the rehabilitated 1.2-kilometre Tsohuwar Kasuwa Road in Katsina metropolis.

The two road projects, completed at a combined cost of more than ₦6.4 billion, were fitted with solar-powered streetlights aimed at improving road safety, easing traffic congestion and extending commercial activities beyond daylight hours.

Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Radda described the roads as strategic investments that would enhance mobility, reduce travel time and stimulate economic activities across the state.

According to him, improved transportation infrastructure remains central to his administration's efforts to attract investment and improve residents' quality of life.

The governor also flagged off the construction of 20 township roads covering 10.7 kilometres in Malumfashi Local Government Area at a cost of ₦10.2 billion.

The urban renewal project includes the installation of solar-powered streetlights and is expected to improve access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets and residential communities.

Radda said the project would also generate employment opportunities while supporting broader urban development and economic activities within the town.

In Batsari Local Government Area, the governor commissioned a modern Cassava/Gari Processing Centre, which he named after the late former Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma.

He said the facility would strengthen the state's cassava value chain by reducing post-harvest losses, creating reliable markets for farmers and promoting value addition through local processing.

The governor added that the centre would create employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people engaged in agricultural production and processing.

During his visit to Batsari, Radda inspected the ongoing construction of a new secondary school and expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work.

He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to expanding access to quality education through improved infrastructure and the recruitment of qualified teachers.

The governor also commissioned the newly completed 2.3-kilometre Batsari Township Road alongside renovated councillors' offices at the local government secretariat.

He commended the Batsari Local Government Council for supporting the state's development agenda through grassroots infrastructure projects.

As part of efforts to stimulate entrepreneurship, Governor Radda launched the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Business Starter Package Programme.

Beneficiaries who completed entrepreneurship training received business equipment and starter packages valued between ₦150,000 and ₦320,000, depending on their business categories.

According to the governor, the initiative is designed to restore livelihoods in communities affected by insecurity by promoting entrepreneurship, self-employment and sustainable economic recovery.

He said the programme would help reduce poverty while encouraging business growth and long-term economic resilience across the state.

The latest round of project commissioning and new development initiatives underscores the Katsina State Government's continued focus on expanding infrastructure, supporting agriculture, creating jobs and strengthening small businesses as part of its broader economic transformation strategy.