Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, has identified poverty, youth unemployment, displacement, and climate change as major drivers of insecurity, saying efforts to restore peace must go beyond military action and address the underlying causes of violence.
Radda made the remarks during the inauguration of a housing estate for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Jibia Local Government Area, where he also renewed his appeal to bandits to abandon criminal activities and embrace government-backed reintegration programmes.
The housing project, developed under the Northwest Prevention Facility Project through a partnership between the Katsina State Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), comprises 152 housing units for displaced families. It also includes a climate peace hub, a veterinary clinic, an entrepreneurship centre, and a 50-kilowatt mini solar grid aimed at supporting livelihoods and community recovery.
Addressing beneficiaries and stakeholders at the event, the governor urged those involved in banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes to return to their communities and take advantage of opportunities created by the government.
“To our brothers and sisters in the forests, the doors for dialogue, repentance, and reintegration remain open. Lay down your arms and return to your families and communities,” he said.
Radda stressed that peace-building requires the participation of all segments of society, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, and youth groups. He called on community members to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and help prevent conflicts from escalating into violence.
As part of efforts to support displaced families, the governor announced a grant of N200,000 for each household benefiting from the housing scheme to aid their resettlement and economic recovery.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Abdulhamid Ahmad, said the housing units were designed to reflect local cultural and architectural realities. Each house contains two bedrooms, a bathroom, a toilet, and a spacious courtyard suitable for family living.
According to him, the beneficiaries, made up of 70 women and 82 men, were selected from communities across the eleven wards of Jibia Local Government Area affected by bandit attacks.
Jibia Local Government Chairman, Sirajo Ado, described the project as a landmark intervention that would bring relief and renewed hope to victims of insecurity across the area.
Also speaking, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting recovery and development initiatives in Katsina State. She noted that the project was designed to help families rebuild their lives and create opportunities for a more secure and prosperous future.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, said security conditions in the state had improved significantly under the current administration, with many residents returning to their farms, businesses, and other economic activities.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the IDPs Mass Housing Estate in Magama, Jibia, was attended by government officials, development partners, community leaders, and foreign diplomats, including the German Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Annette Günther, and Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera.