The governor of Kastina State, Dikko Radda, has disclosed the government’s commitment to ending the state of insecurity in the northern state, which will further boost the rate of agricultural practice and other development efforts.
The made this known on Sunday while the state played host to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, at the Government House, Katsina State.
Speaking during the Sunday visit, the governor begged for continued collaboration
and support from the office of the chief of air state. He noted that the calibration between the state government and the chief of air staff was very important in helping the state’s security situation.
He stated that the armed forces should be assured of the willingness of the state government readiness to support their efforts in any way possible. The governor further appreciated the armed forces for the good relationship between them in the past years, which has been the product of the military leadership. He further appreciated them for the new equipment sent to the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport, which has improved the services.
The governor noted that the government was working in different areas of the country to ensure the reduction of banditry. He noted that the rate of unemployment, illiteracy, and a lack of livelihood opportunities are the major contributors to the security challenges experienced by the state. The governor further explained that approximately 90 per cent of the state’s population engages in agriculture, which is associated with state investment in the sector.
The governor disclosed that the state government had deployed N30 billion in the past week to purchase different equipment to aid the utilization of mechanised farming. He also noted that the state has been the biggest buyer of fertilizer in the country, which has been distributed to farmers in different parts of the state.
The governor noted that the state government has planned to distribute 4,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps, with the youths being the targeted population for the distribution of improved agriculture in the state.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, the governor explained that the if the equipment are distributed to the youths, it will help in the provision of ways to enhance livelihood in the state.
Radda also disclosed that the Katsina State Security Watch has led and arrested over 1,000 informants who have been feeding bandits with information. He also noted that the state government was currently engaging traditional rulers in the state to identify and eliminate suspicious elements within their communities.
The chief of air staff, while responding, appreciated the government in its effort to enhance intelligence gathering and sharing mechanisms. He noted that the state government in the past years has given priority to the welfare of the security agencies, which has helped in the operations and conducive environment for sustained socioeconomic growth and development of the state.
He also thanked the governor for his level of commitment to finding lasting solutions to the state’s insecurity crisis. He highlighted the establishment of the Katsina Community Watch Corps as an innate factor that helped improve the security situation in the state.
The COAS also disclosed that the armed forces have planned a more robust deployment of Special Forces troops to the NAF QRWs in the Katsina, Daura and Funtua parts of the state. He noted that the deployment will complement the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies currently carrying out different operations in the state.
The COAS also sent his condolences to the people and the state government over the death of Late Dada Yar’adua, mother of former President Umaru Yar’adua.
