Governor Radda confirms ₦1bn Federation Allocation for completion of Kaita earth dam, commends LG chairman over empowerment, pledges attention to key roads

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has revealed that the Federal Government has allocated ₦1 billion in the 2026 national budget to complete the abandoned Kaita Earth Dam, a critical project expected to boost irrigation farming and water supply across Kaita Local Government.

The governor made the revelation Friday during his engagement visit to Kaita Local Government, where he paid homage to the Sarkin Sullubawan Katsina, District Head of Kaita, Alhaji Yazid Abdulmumini Kabir, and interacted with community stakeholders, traditional leaders, farmers, political groups, and youth representatives.

Governor Radda explained that the renewed funding is a major breakthrough for residents who have waited for years for the resumption of the abandoned project. He said the state government will ensure fairness, transparency, and full compensation for affected landowners, particularly farmers whose lands fall within the dam’s construction zone.

“The Kaita Earth Dam is a lifeline for irrigation farmers. Its revival is long overdue, and this federal allocation is a welcome and significant development,” the governor said.

He assured the traditional institutions and residents of Kaita that once federal processes are completed, construction will commence without delay, noting that water infrastructure remains a core priority of his administration.

During the visit, Governor Radda also addressed long-standing requests for the construction of the Dutsin Safe–Daga–Riko–Kagadama Road and the Babbar Ruga–Matsai–Wang Wang Road. He said the two roads are vital for mobility, agriculture, and local commerce and reaffirmed that improving rural roads remains central to his economic expansion plan.

Addressing residents during a separate stakeholder meeting, the governor commended the Kaita Local Government Chairman for launching a large-scale empowerment programme targeted at women, youths, vulnerable persons, and students of tertiary institutions. He described the effort as a strong complement to the state government’s poverty alleviation agenda.

The empowerment items distributed include 100 grinding machines, 100 sewing machines, and 100 pepper-grinding machines aimed at supporting household enterprises and small-scale businesses across the area.

Other empowerment materials include 150 butchers’ pans, a ₦50,000 capital grant to 50 butchers, 50 solar-powered water pumps, and a major cash support programme worth about ₦45 million benefiting 600 youths, vulnerable individuals, and small business operators.

The council also provided seven Peugeot cars and three Toyota Corolla vehicles for official use, 40 motorcycles for operational activities, and a ₦15 million scholarship funds for 540 students of tertiary institutions from the area. Governor Radda described these investments as “a clear demonstration of grassroots-centered leadership.”

Earlier, while receiving the governor, the Sarkin Sullubawan Katsina, District Head of Kaita, Alhaji Yazid Abdulmumini Kabir, appealed for sustained pressure to ensure the Federal Government follows through on the dam’s completion, describing it as the most crucial project for farmers in the area.

The district head also emphasized the importance of reconstructing the Katsina–Bugaje–Gangara Road and the Gurbi–Shimfida Road, which he said would restore economic activity in previously affected communities.

Governor Radda reiterated his readiness to continue supporting Kaita’s development priorities, assuring that government engineers would inspect the identified road networks for further action.

He later met with community groups and stakeholders, where he reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between government, traditional institutions, and local leaders.

Dignitaries accompanying the governor included Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura; Senator representing Katsina Central, Senator Abdul’aziz Musa Yar’adua; Member representing Dutsi/Mashi Federal Constituency, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri and Member representing Kaita/Jibia Federal Constituency,Hon Sada Soli Jibia.

Others were the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Sani Aliyu Daura; Chief of Staff, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Principal Private Secretary, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Commissioner of Lands and Physical Planning Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita and some members of the Katsina State Executive Council.